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The Benefits of Owning a Pet
Tuesday, April 9, 2019
  By: Kingsdale Animal Hospital  In: Pet Health

The Benefits of Owning a Pet

If you're reading this blog, chances are you have a special pet in your life. Whether they are a dog, cat, rabbit, bird, bearded dragon, or mouse (we treat creatures of all shapes and sizes!), pets provide great benefits to their owners.


Mental Health and Stress:
Studies have shown that pets are fantastic at improving a person's mental health. When I come home and my dog comes to greet me at the door, with her bright eyes and wagging tail, it always brings a smile to my face. Cuddling, petting, or playing with an animal, can help us relax and forget about other stressors in life. Interacting with pets help lower anxiety and stress hormones in our body. Caring for an animal also provides our life with a sense of purpose and meaning. If you live alone or if your family members, partner, or roommates work a different schedule than you, having a pet is an excellent companion. They are willing to hear about your dog and support you through it. It doesn't matter if your pet is a 100 pound dog or a 2 pound guinea pig - they are all supportive in their own ways!


Physical Health and Socialization:
Walking a dog every day helps get us out of the house and enjoying the outdoors.  Playing in the park helps calm our mind and enjoy nature. Daily physical activity is extremely important to both pets and people and having one another around helps us achieve our goals. Your dog is an excellent personal trainer in that sense! Speaking of walking your dog, daily adventures outdoors can also result in more socialization for dog owners. Whether it's someone complimenting your dog on how cute they are, or a fellow dog owner chatting about their favourite treats in the dog park, there are many opportunities to get out and meet people with your dog. Maybe you will meet the love of your life on one of those walks someday?!

Kids:
If you have kids, owning a pet, whether it be a tiny hamster or playful kitten, helps teach children a sense of responsibility, nurturing, and ownership. Having the children involved in the care of the pet helps them develop practical skills such as cleaning and brushing. It also fosters empathy and nurturing which is beneficial as children grow and develop. Furthermore, for children with learning disabilities such as autism, having a pet can help them develop skills and relationships that may otherwise be more challenging for them.

Mindfulness:
Pets are also known to increase our mindfulness. Mindfulness is the sense of enjoying the present moment in time, not worrying about yesterday or tomorrow. That is one wonderful thing about animals, they enjoy today for today!

So give your pet an extra cuddle today to thank them for all the wonderful things they do for you!


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