Are Pets Good for Your Mental Health?

Caring for a pet can be good for your physical and mental health. An animal companion can be a loyal friend and a valuable member of your family, plus, pets provide companionship and unconditional love.

What is pet therapy?

Pet therapy or animal assisted therapy is the use of trained animals to benefit patients and improve outcomes; in short, it is a way to effectively address patients’ stress while in healthcare settings while diverting the patient’s mind from their immediate problems and lowering anxiety, among other therapeutic benefits.

A three way relationship:

Components of pet therapy include the animal, handler/owner, and the patient. 

Animals may be brought to the hospitals or rehabilitation centers to interact with patients and their families in different ways.

Some interactions include meet and greet, include petting, holding (when appropriate), or talking to the animal.  Under the therapist’s discretion, the trainer may allow animals like dogs to assist with and encourage walking in some patients.

As part of the interdisciplinary team, the animal’s handler works to find interactions that are beneficial for the patient. These trained interactions may include range-of-motion exercises, and distraction. This type of therapy is completed with professionals like, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and other healthcare professionals.

The bond that develops between a human and animal companion can be just as strong as the bond between two people.

Animal assisted activities or therapies have now found a common place not just in homes of loving people, but also in classrooms, acute care hospitals, psychiatric facilities, and long-term care facilities. They are at times even used in courtrooms to help innocent victim’s subjected to extreme violence and trauma speak about their vulnerable moments. These activities may be led by trained professionals or volunteers; however, the animals must meet specific criteria to participate.

History and background:

The use of animals in curing illnesses goes as far as one can care to research. 

Hippocrates made reference to horseback riding to aid sleeplessness and lift the spirits of those who were ill.

Galen, a Greek doctor, encouraged the human-animal bond as a method of battling disease.

However, Dr. Boris Levinson, a child psychologist, was the first researcher to use animals as a therapeutic approach and began the first formal research into its benefits in 1960s. Levinson was the first to use the term pet therapy.  Later, in the 18^th century, The York Retreat, a psychiatric institution in London illustrated a benefit between animals and patients.

Who can benefit from pet therapy?

The simple answer, anyone who loves animals.

But in particular, Pet therapy can be useful for:

• people undergoing chemotherapy for cancer
• residents in nursing homes and long-term care facilities
• people hospitalized with chronic illnesses like stroke and heart failure
• veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder
• children having physical or dental procedures
• stroke victims and people undergoing rehabilitation and physical therapy to regain motor skills
• people with mental health disorders
• people battling crippling addictions and substance use disorders

Animals used in per therapy:

Most people think of dogs and cats as animals that help people.  But what if I said, the animals used for therapeutic intervention are actually quite diverse? 

Animals such as guinea pigs and rabbits offer the same assistance with comfort, companionship, fine motor skills, and emotional or behavioral benefits as their canine coworkers.

Dolphin therapy involves swimming with the dolphins and is often used in outpatient therapy.

Studies also point to reptiles being used in London to help individuals struggling with mental health problems like depression, eating disorders, and substance use disorders.

Ever hear of horses in therapy? 

The owners of these lovely creatures will tell you, the healing benefits of interacting with horses. Horse therapy or the popularly called equine therapy is used for individuals with impairments related to acquired and congenital physical and cognitive conditions.

Equine therapy is known to improve self-esteem, while building self-awareness, confidence, and empathy. Modern psychologists swear on its benefits in treating behavioral issues, depression, grief, anxiety, relationship issues, substance use disorders, attention deficit disorders and eating disorders.

Moreover, certain aspects of equine therapy are said to help veterans, especially those suffering from PTSD and complex trauma to learn to reintegrate into civilian life while learning necessary skills in communication, emotional regulation and trust building.

A pet provides for more benefits than meets the eye:

1. You always have a walking partner. It can be more enjoyable to walk with a companion. Dogs are always excited to go for a walk, too. There are even a few cats that like to take a stroll. Studies show that dog owners walk almost 25 minutes longer each day than non-dog owners. Having a pet can improve your fitness.
   
2. Your blood pressure will be lower. Having a pet that you find soothing has been shown to lower blood pressure. People with pets tend to have lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure, a stronger immune system, and are generally healthier. Pet owners who’ve suffered a major illness recuperate quicker than those without a pet.
3. Pets are great for kids. Kids adore pets. Having a pet can help children to be more social, develop stronger immune systems, and learn responsibility. With the right pet, your child always has someone to play with.  Children who are shy can benefit greatly from having a pet. Animals can help draw a shy child out of their shell.

 There are many other benefits of having a pet for a child:

• A pet can be a good way to start a conversation and make friends.

• A family pet can boost a child’s self-esteem.

• Pets can give a child a sense of protection and security.

• Pet ownership can help teach children about interaction, compassion and responsibility.

• Pets can also help children cope with and overcome fears. For example, a child that’s afraid to go to sleep in his own room may adapt more easily if the family cat or dog is allowed to accompany them to bed.

4.You have something to take care of. Life is more meaningful to many folks if they have someone or something that relies on them. Cardiac patients with pets are four times more likely to survive for at least a year than those patients without pets. A pet can give your life a purpose.

5. Less stress. Spending time with a pet can increase oxytocin and other feel-good hormones in the body. It feels soothing to pet your dog or cat.

6. Uplift your mood. Pets reduce the likelihood and severity of depression. If you’ve ever had a pet, you already know that you feel better after spending time with your pet. If you’ve never had a pet, what are you waiting for?

7. Greater social life. It turns out that dog owners have more active social lives. Most people like dogs, and dogs can reduce social tension. It’s easier to walk up to a stranger with a dog than one without.

8. Less pain. People that spend time with dogs after surgery use less pain medication after surgery than those who don’t. This benefit seems to extend to other situations as well. If you have chronic pain, having a pet that you love can help.

9. Someone to talk to. Pets are the perfect conversation companions. They’re interested in what you have to say. They never judge. There was even one study that found that intelligent people are more likely to talk to a pet.

 10. Mature adults, especially those who’ve lost a spouse, can find comfort and companionship in a pet. They often go through a period of feeling as if they’re no longer needed, but owning a pet can fill that need.

11. A pet can help to keep you and your home safe. While a potential burglar might not be concerned with your cat or parakeet, most would-be intruders prefer to avoid homes with dogs. Even a small dog can make quite a lot of noise when something is wrong.

12. Socialization.  A pet can help break the ice when meeting new people. Pet owners who are new to their neighborhood or have difficulty meeting people may find that their pets give them a chance to make new friends.  Animals are naturally curious and may run up to people in an attempt to make their own introductions. Conversations may start between two dog owners and a new friendship begins.

13. Exercise. Pets can keep you active. Dogs need regular exercise and their owners can reap the rewards of keeping fit and healthy in the process. Having a dog forces you to get up and go outside whether you want to or not. Taking the dog for a nice leisurely walk is a great way to get moving, enjoy the outdoors, and get some fresh air. If you feel up to it, you can always go for a run with your dog. You’ll both get some exercise and have fun.

If health prevents you from walking a dog, consider getting a cat instead. Cats can be very loveable and energetic. Toss a ball across the floor or pull out a ball of yarn, and your cat will keep you both entertained for hours. With a cat, you may not get as much exercise as you would with a dog, but you’ll get plenty of laughs, and laughter is great for your health, too!

In conclusion,

Pets don’t talk back, complain, judge, or pack up and leave. All pets are different. Consider your needs, desires, and lifestyle. For example, it’s easier to leave a few fish or a cat at home for the weekend than it is a dog. It doesn’t matter if you like dogs, cats, fish, birds, rats, or rabbits. A pet can do a lot for your happiness, mental and physical health, and overall enjoyment of life!