Pets Therapeutic For People

Psychotherapist Jay Granat believes part of the benefit of pet therapy lies in an animals outlook on life. "Dogs—and other pets—live very much in the here and now. They don't worry about tomorrow. And tomorrow can be very scary for an older person. By having an animal with that sense of now, it tends to rub off on people." By focusing on the positive and pleasant conditions associated with pet therapy, anxiety, depression, and the many negative effects of these conditions are lessened. Even pain seems to fade during pet therapy sessions.

Pets can aid people suffering from depression by helping them ignore their problems for a period of time, and contribute to clearing their minds. Routine is also important for people who are depressed, and pets require daily routines, such as feeding times, walks, and downtime.

Main point one: Companionship is important to have in your life, even if it comes from your dog. When life gets stressful it’s nice to have a companion to play with, take a walk with or even cheer you up. Companionship can be hard to come by with humans sometimes and easily found in dogs. While their personalities vary according to the breed of the dog, one characteristic remains the same, their loyalty. Dogs make great listeners, maybe because they can’t tell you to stop talking, but either way they seem to listen with interest. Many dog owners find themselves telling dogs things they can't seem to tell anyone else. This is what makes dogs good therapeutic animals. A dog is an especially good animal for someone who lives alone or suffers from depression. Having a dog present can also help people who have suffered a tragic loss in their life and need the company of another life for comfort. I know from my personal experience of losing a loved one, what a dog can do to help you through. Owning a dog gave me responsibility at me weakest and gave me a

Pets provide a sense of comfort and purpose in their owner’s life (Bennett). Humans have the basic need to touch, thus, when a person strokes an animal, blood pressure lowers and leaves that person feeling more calmed and less stressed (Robinson and Segal), though researchers believe that cats have a more calming effect on people than other animals do (WebMD). Giving a child a pet is very effective in helping them develop basic motor and social skills, a sense of responsibility, compassion, empathy, stimulate imagination, creativity, curiosity, and even make them feel better about themselves. Furthermore, both children and adults alike become more active when having a pet for a companion (Robinson and Segal). “Horseback riding gives stretching exercise, and helps at regaining balance and building core strength” (WebMD). While multiple studies have shown that walking one’s dog, grooming, and even petting boosts fitness, also counting as weight-loss, strengthens the heart, muscles, immune system, and bones, while improving blood circulation, boosting energy, and slowing the loss of bone tissue (WebMD; Robinson and Segal; Humane Society of the United States) “People who have pets tend to have better levels of cholesterol, cortisol, and triglyceride” (WebMD), moreover, “playing with a dog or cat can elevate levels serotonin and dopamine, which calm and relax” (Robinson and Segal). “In 2001, a study

There are lots of people who can benefit from pet therapy. People who can benefit from pet therapy are people having denture problems, receiving cancer treatment, people in long term facilities, people hospitalized with chronic heart failure, and veterans with PTSD (Post-traumatic stress disorder.) Not just people who are dealing with the struggling events can benefit from pet therapy. The person's family can also benefit from pet therapy because they know the person will not be alone anymore. The person's friends can benefit from

Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines a pet as “a domesticated animal kept for pleasure rather than a utility.” Dogs have been considered man's best friend for centuries. They have stood side by side through natural disasters, family tragedies, the gift of life, birthdays, and anything else that comes to mind. These furry friends do not judge people for how they look, but show love and compassion to everyone. Dogs help people cope mentally and emotionally, receive sufficient exercise, and create new friendships.

Have you ever noticed that dog owners are happier and healthier than non dog owners?Dogs have been used for centuries and we still love them as our trusting companions. There are many reasons that dogs are called a “mans’ best friend”. Having a dog can have many benefits including lower risk of cardiovascular complications, they can improve your mood, and they can help with many physical and mental disabilities in the form of service dogs or mobility support dogs.

Dogs can help us humans with mental health. Many service dogs are used to help people who are deaf or people that are blind. How about people with mental issues? Dogs not only help us with physical problems but also with mental problems like depression. In the article “Therapy pets and humans with mental health issues” the author “ dog time” starts to state in the 3 paragraph “Trained animals [iii] are used to benefit patients suffering with emotional and behavioral disorders, depression, autism, substance abuse, and dementia.” (2010) This can show how animals can help us with mental issues because animals can understand many struggles us humans have, because after their trained they can not only understand us but also

Animals can play a significant role in a human's life. Some animals that we know do that are dogs. Dogs can change a human's life in a positive way. Some dogs are trained then later used in war. Other dogs are used as pets and to cheer their owners up that suffer from PTSD. In the article “Feeling Depressed? There’s a Dog for That” by Jacqueline Bennett as you get to the 12th paragraph it says “There are a growing number of organizations dedicated to training service dogs to help those suffering from PTSD, particularly veterans. In fact, dogs have been proven so effective at helping combat anxiety, stress, and depression, the government

Scientists have shown that pet ownership can have demonstrably positive effects on human health. "A 10-month prospective study was carried out which examined changes in behaviour and health status in 71 adult subjects following the acquisition of a new pet (either dogs or cats). A group of 26 subjects without pets served as a comparison over the same period. Both pet-owning groups reported a highly significant reduction in minor health problems during the first month following pet acquisition, and this effect was sustained in dog owners through to 10 months" (Serpell 1991). Dog owners in particular benefited from

Is it worth it? I find myself asking this question any time I have to make an important decision, so is it really worth it? According to Burkhard Bilger, the author of “The Last Meow” “Americans spend nineteen billion dollars a year on veterinary care, up from eleven billion dollars just seven years ago.” (par. 48) Nineteen billion dollars is a large amount of money being spent on animals, and the only reasons Americans are willing to spend so much is because of the caring and loving traits the animals bring. In studies conducted by The American Heart Association, dog owners are less likely to suffer from depression, playing with a dog or cat can increase levels of dopamine and serotonin (two compounds that can calm and relax the human body), and pet owners over age sixty-five make fewer trips to their doctors. If an animal is able to reduce the amount of doctor office visits, calm owners, and save them from

They walked an average of 300 minutes per week, compared with non-dog owners, who walked an average of 168 minutes per week, which in all could help you lose weight and make you healthy for a longer life. People who have strong connections to their pets also have social and relationship benefits. The researchers surveyed 500 18- to 26-year-olds and found that those who had “strong attachment to pets reported feeling more connected to their communities and relationships.” They also found that the more attached a person was to an animal as a teenager and young adult, the more empathetic and confident he or she was. Loneliness is common among the elderly. Studies have shown that in people 60 years of age and older, owning a dog were four times less likely to be diagnosed as clinically depressed. They are always happy to see you. Dogs get so excited when we come home and it always puts a smile on peoples faces. Dogs like to snuggle up to you and keep you warm when it’s chilly, especially when they're fluffy and soft. Kids learn about taking care of someone other than themselves like feeding the dog and taking them outside it really teaches kids how at a young age that they are responsible for their own things. Dog owners have a much higher rate of recovery from being sick than non-dog

There’s a group of 5 stray kittens that are currently living under my neighbor’s deck. Lately, I’ve had an unhealthy obsession with trying to befriend them and their mom. I give them water daily and a snack occasionally but they still scatter like roaches when I try to pet them. Thus far, they haven’t let me get too close which is probably for the best since I’m allergic to cats. They’re just so cute!

First, owning a pet can give people some major health benefits. Without a pet, a day at work or school can be stressful. By the end of the day, people could be ripping out their hair or throwing papers everywhere. This can make anyone’s heart rate go up as well as their blood pressure. Thankfully, studies have shown that interacting with a dog or other pet can lower his or her’s cortisol levels. For instance, after only three months, a group of people working with dogs were shown to have significant drops in blood pressure and stress. Pet’s happy go lucky vibes can impact their owners to feel the same, lowering his or her’s stress level. Even when someone sees a picture of their pet when they're stressed, it can immediately cause his or her’s heart

     Why such beneficial effects? “Ironically, the most common reason people give for not having pets-having to care for them-is one of the reasons pets improve health. Pets require that you ‘extend’ yourself when you normally wouldn’t, and for people who are ill or just want better health, pets turn them into ‘care