Pets and health

Why do people have pets?

Animals didn't start out as pets. Humans used animals for the services they provided. Pets like dogs were found to be efficient hunting partners and offered protection to human pack members, they were later trained to help humans herd and manage livestock.

Pets serve humans at home - they still work with livestock, hunt and offer protection. Many have also been trained to assist people with disabilities. They are the eyes for the blind, the ears for the deaf, the arms of those without mobility. They have been trained to answer phones and open doors. Some are said to be able to detect certain cancers.

It's been proven time and again that animals reduce human stress and offer comfort.

Health benefits caused by pets:

While most pet owners are clear about the immediate joys that come with sharing their lives with companion animals, many remain unaware of the physical and mental health benefits that can also accompany the pleasure of playing with a furry friend. Studies have found that:

Pet owners are less likely to suffer from depression than those without pets.
People with pets have lower blood pressure in stressful situations than those without pets.
Pet owners have lower cholesterol levels (indicators of heart disease) than those without pets.
Heart attack patients with pets survive longer than those without.
Pet owners over age 65 make 30 percent fewer visits to their doctors than those without pets.
A pet doesn’t have to be a dog or a cat. Even watching fish in an aquarium can help reduce muscle tension and pulse rate.

Health problems caused by pets:

Some veterinary scientists said that sleeping with and kissing pets on their little lips puts the person at risk for some serious medical problems.
Moreover, it was studied and said that even healthy pets carry little risk of disease.