10 Reasons your Pet Makes You Healthier

Most people tend to think they’re doing their pets a favor when they take a puppy in to live with them, but have you ever stopped to think that maybe it’s the other way around? There are actually quite a few scientifically sound reasons to think your pet makes you healthier.

To keep things short, we’re just going to list 10.

1. Pets are good for your heart. Researchers at the American Heart Association have discovered that owning a pet actually reduces your chance of cardiovascular disease.

2. Pets increase mood and support mental health. Ever talked to your pet about your day or tell him/her about the pesky co-worker who keeps stealing your lunch? Pet therapy is actually a very real method of treatment used to reduce anxiety, pain and depression. Having a pet can be a very cost effective means of staying mentally healthy and stable.

3. Pets keep you moving. There aren’t too many dog owners who would call taking their canine out to poop a privilege, but the little physical exertions pet owners undergo to take care of their animals adds up over time. The level at which pet owners physically benefit from these activities differs from pet to pet, but on average pet owners remain much more active than people who live without animal companions.

4. Pets can help you quit smoking. Sure, this is a little nit-picky and smoking has been harped on to death, but it’s true. A 2008 study found that 28 percent of pet-owners were willing to quit smoking after they found out second hand smoke was harmful to their pets.

5. Pets can detect life threatening health hazards. Dogs in particular have been trained to detect everything from cancer to extremely small amounts of peanuts in order to keep their owners healthy and safe. They’re so effective that researchers are considering the use of dogs as early cancer detection systems, and various other species are capable of similar lifesaving results.

6. Pets help you develop stronger social relationship with other people. A study conducted at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University discovered people with a “strong attachment to pets reported feeling more connected to their communities and relationships.” Looking to save” Looking to save your marriage? Maybe try getting a dog.

7. Pets can calm you during high-stress situations. We’ve already covered that pets help your overall stress levels, but they also prove helpful in calming you down in the moment. Ever notice how your dog or cat somehow just knows when you’re upset and appears at just the right moment? Always helps, doesn’t it?

8. Children who grow up with pets are less likely to develop pet allergies. Research has shown that children who grow up with pets are much less likely to develop various kinds of allergies as they mature. How does this help you? A healthier child means a less stressed, healthier you.

9. Pets help you recover quicker. Pet owners have a much faster recovery rate from injuries and illnesses than people who don’t own pets. Who wouldn’t want a faster healing factor?!

10. Pets keep life interesting. You’ll never die of boredom with a pet in your life, and isn’t boredom the most dangerous health risk of all?

How has your pet made your life better? Tell us!