6 Ways Pets Can Improve Your Health

Have you ever noticed that you feel better when you're around your pet?

It's true. Spending quality time with a dog, cat or other animal can have a positive impact on your mood and your health. 

1. A Healthier Heart

Your dog may make you less likely to get heart disease. Why? Dog owners walk more and have lower blood pressure than people who don't have dogs.

Pets can also be good for you if you already have heart problems.

Heart attack survivors and people with serious abnormal heart rhythms who own dogs live longer than people with the same heart problems who don't have pets, studies show.

2. Stress Soothers

Petting your cat or dog feels good. It can lower your blood pressure, helps your body release a relaxation hormone, and cuts down on levels of a stress hormone.

It also soothes your pet!

3. Social Magnets

Pets, especially dogs, can help you connect with other people.

Many people don't feel comfortable striking up a conversation with a total stranger, but they could if the stranger had a dog . It's an acceptable interaction that otherwise wouldn't be possible.

People who use wheelchairs say that other people make eye contact with them more often and ask if they can be of help when they're with their dogs.

4. Better Mood, More Meaning

People with pets are generally happier, more trusting, and less lonely than those who don't have pets. They also visit the doctor less often for minor problems.

One reason for that may be that your pet gives you a sense of belonging and meaning. You feel like you have greater control of your life.

5. Benefits for Baby’s Immune System

Babies raised in families that have pets may be less likely to get allergies and asthma, some studies show.

Babies with dogs or cats at home have fewer colds and ear infections during their first year than babies living in pet-free homes, one study found.

6. Social Support for Autistic Children

Kids tend to relate better to their classmates who have autism when pets are in the classroom.

Animals change the classroom environment and help to integrate those who are a little less typical. Once the children get involved with animals, they view each other more positively and work together better.

7. AND ONE MORE THING:
With the high temperatures we’re having right now, although we covered all the ways to prevent heat exhaustion and heat stroke, please remember that dogs left in cars have a very high risk of heat stroke. Just a few minutes" could be an eternity in a 120F degree car. Never ever leave your pets alone in a car. Not even for a minute. Not even with the car running and air conditioner on. On a warm day, temperatures inside a vehicle can rise rapidly to dangerous levels. On an 85-degree day, for example, the temperature inside a car with the windows opened slightly can reach 102 degrees within 10 minutes. After 30 minutes, the temperature will reach 120 degrees. Your pet may suffer irreversible organ damage or die.