Pet Therapy is a powerful remedy — one pet can be a solution to a dozen diseases. Believe it or not, it’s 100% true, especially for elderly individuals, people under stress, the blind, deaf, disabled, and those suffering from conditions like heart disease and high blood pressure. Pets never lie, never place expectations, and certainly won’t steal your bank balance. They are the cheapest form of anti-anxiety medication. Spending just a few moments with a pet can make people feel happier — stress hormones are lowered, and mood is lifted. As a result, Pet Therapy often leads to fewer doctor visits and reduced dependence on medication.
As per a recent survey on elderly people, who are standing between life and death, more than 40% of the elderly people in the UK are dependent on antidepressants which have severe side effects like a decrease in bone density and that too at Old age. Here comes the substitute and important role of pets. Pets such as dogs and cats make a powerful positive impact on elderly people. It refocuses their attention on pleasant activity and in this way, there is less need for antidepressants. Elaborating it in another way, it is nearly impossible to feel lonely and depressed when there is a happy, lighthearted, cheery, and especially unselfish animal in front of a person.
Positive Impact on Cardiovascular Health and Blood Pressure
In a recent survey, it was found that pet owners have a lower risk/likelihood for heart-related diseases as it decreases the cholesterol level and blood pressure
By pet therapy, people get their mind off the things that create panic for them and experience pleasant emotions.
There are abundant positive benefits of pet ownership. It has been found in research that blood pressure and pulse rate in horses and dogs show a significant decrease as above mentioned animals are touched by human beings. On the contrary, similar effect is on humans. A person’s blood pressure drops when they touch their pet.
Pets are used for the disabled people also to heal them emotionally and physically. Pet helps the people when they are isolated, mourning or alone. Moreover, Dogs are used for the blind and deaf, and horseback riding for the disabled people. Recently, dogs have been used to assist people with Autism, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and Anxiety.
People can respond either negatively or positively, but animals most often show appreciation for the relationship they have with people.
Pets do not include Dogs and cats only. It also includes horses, guinea pigs, canaries, fish, and rats.
Contribution of Pets to Healing Cancer Patients
Pets aid in Cancer treatment in the following manner:
• Inspire them to get better
• Releasing their anxiety and lifting their mood.
• Providing company and comfort when the patient is in isolation.
• Helps in socializing patients and boosting their confidence
• Refocusing their attention from stress and pain to pleasant emotions.
Effect of Pets on the Development of Child
It is found that children having pets are independent and optimistic. They tend to be less aggressive, have high self-esteem, and are less self-centered than Children without pets. Moreover, pets help children develop imagination power. These children are less destructive as they develop sympathy for animals. Specifically, pets are suggested for withdrawn, socially disadvantaged children and physically ill children. It helps in the psychosocial development of Children.
The Panic of stressful events in the life of Children can be eased by pets. To sum up animals aids children in developing habits of cooperation, high self-esteem, socialization, cooperation and a host of other factors.
