5 Best Reasons

During this historical Covid-19 Pandemic my coworkers and I agree on a couple of things.  1) We have never seen so many people out walking their dogs, and 2) We have been seeing a lot of new puppy exams!  I’m not sure if number 2 is a good thing or not but hey to each their own, and it keeps us in business. 😉 Getting a new pet is a decision that lasts the pets life time, and should not be made on a whim.  When one is ready and can financially take care of that pet then it can have numerous positives. 

Quick Tip: Page last reviewed: April 15, 2019

Content source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID)

Studies have shown that the bond between people and their pets can increase fitness, lower stress, and bring happiness to their owners. Some of the health benefits of having a pet include:

• Decreased blood pressure
• Decreased cholesterol levels
• Decreased triglyceride levels
• Decreased feelings of loneliness
• Increased opportunities for exercise and outdoor activities
• Increased opportunities for socialization

However, pets can sometimes carry harmful germs that can make us sick even when the pet appears healthy. The diseases people get from animals are called zoonotic (zoe-oh-NOT-ic) diseases. Below are some tips to help you and your family stay healthy while enjoying pets.

After looking at blogs and magazine articles I picked out my top 5 fav to report back to you.  

• They Help Keep You Physically Fit – This can be very true if you are dedicated to getting that pet out for walks/runs.  Obviously it depends on what kind of pet you get. At one time I had the pleasure of rescuing an older Rat with a tumor.  My vet I worked for at the time removed it and she lived for another year and half. I used to put her in the hood of my sweater and take long walks with my boyfriend ( present day Husband).  Thelma was her name. FYI guys my husband cried when she died! 
• They Help Your Mental State – This is true for especially elderly and special need children.  I have had senior citizens tell me at their pet exams that they have a hard time remembering a lot of daily things but they always remember their pets healthcare needs or remember to write it down.  My younger sis worked with special needs children for years as a teachers aid ( In her situation she pretty much was the teacher!) She would occasionally bring her Ferret to class and tell me that young severe kids with Autism would come out of their reclusiveness to interact with Merlin the Ferret. 
• They Can Act As Warning Signs To Serious Illnesses – I know there have been a lot of  reported incidents where an animal warnes an owner of a seizure coming on or cancers developing.  My one and only story was a beautiful yellow lab that we had to put down due to GDV ( Bloat ) It was a true emergency and the dog was in a lot of pain and as the owner bent down and cried over losing him, his wife told us of how his beloved companion detected testicular cancer in him.  Out of the blue the dog just started sniffing his owner’s crotch and would not leave it alone. The Owner finally decided to get checked out by his Dr. and informed him of what his dog recently started doing. The cancer was detected early enough to take care of it and when the guy was in full remission the dog completely stopped sniffing and bothering his testicles. 
• They Help Fight Off Allergies – Especially for families introducing a pet helps children to build an immunity to pet allergies. Quick Tip:  Pets May Prevent Allergies in Kids Early Exposure Found to Reduce Later Risk in ChildrenBy Sid KirchheimerOct. 14, 2003 — Despite the long-held belief that cats and dogs in the home could lead to childhood allergies, there’s mounting evidence that the opposite may be true: Having pets may actually reduce risk while avoiding these critters doesn’t.In the latest study, allergist Thomas Platts-Mills, MD, PhD, of the University of Virginia, and Swedish researchers find that the longer children had pets when they are young — ideally during their first two years — the lower their frequency of having pet allergies is years later.
• They Are Great For All Ages – This ones a no brainer guys =) Pets help in so many ways from emotional to physical, and educational.  I love teaching my four year old how to feed his dogs and walk his dogs soon to come…. Picking up the poop!!! Yay for me! From seeing a family with kids adopt their first puppy or kitten, a young couple that just moved to the area for school and brought their dog or cat along for the journey, to seniors bringing in their cherished dotted on poopsie one thing remains the same, the love I always sense in the room for that pet! 

Thanks For Reading 

Heidi Parker