Why it's so good to have dogs and cats at home

Having pets at home is a very personal decision and we must be aware of the work and responsibilities that this entails before preparing to bring one home. Did you know that these pets can reduce the level of stress, anxiety or depression? In this article we will explain the benefits of having dogs and / or cats.

A large number of scientific studies have determined that the links established between humans and animals have positive effects on mental and physical health.

Some of the conclusions reached by these studies are the following:

People with pets under their care are less likely to have depression.
Blood pressure in dog or cat owners is lower in stressful situations or may even improve hypertension.
Playing with animals raises levels of serotonin and dopamine, these lead to calm and relax us.
The levels of triglycerides and cholesterol in people who have a dog or a cat are lower than in those who do not.
Patients who have suffered heart attacks and who have dogs live longer.
Owners of pets under the age of 65 receive 30% less to the doctor.

The small changes to which we expose ourselves when we welcome a pet

Life with or without pets is of course very different. Not only change the number of responsibilities but our habits and schedules are modified. Some changes that we can experience before the arrival of the new member of the family can be the following:

We will increase the daily exercise. Our dog needs to go out, and not just to relieve himself, he needs to discharge his energy: running, swimming or walking. So someone will have to take it out ... It's a good time to get fit and relax.
We will be accompanied. Being thrown at home without doing anything, now will be different. We will always have to watch our pet asking for pampering, playing ball or just lying next to us. The feeling of loneliness will practically disappear and with it some of the symptoms of depression (loneliness, isolation, etc.)
We will make new friends. Now going down the street with our dog will make us more sociable. Many people with pets want to make new friends and have their dogs socialize. From here you can leave group walks or even field and beach activities.
It will reduce our anxiety. Pets live in today and now. They do not worry about what they will eat tomorrow or about the prank they did and for which they were scolded. This will help you to leave the problems behind and enjoy the moments.
New routines arrive. The animals need routines for feeding, exercise and play. This will make you have to organize your day in a different way and with it you will optimize your time. It will not matter if you are depressed or do not want to leave, your dog will help you out of this circle for full need.
It will keep you active and busy. This aspect is paramount for our elders. As we age our obligations and responsibilities are reduced and this leads to unproductivity. Feeling useless is never a good thing and our pet will help us get away from this feeling. Someone has to take care of her!
It will teach responsibility. Especially, this benefit is aimed at our children. If our child grows up seeing that someone needs their help to survive and takes care of it, both their values and sense of responsibility will increase.
We will become more loving. Our pets show us all the time that they appreciate us and they want us in a disinterested way and this fact makes us unwittingly see ourselves in the "obligation" to give them back all that love. People who have difficulty expressing their feelings, with our new partner will develop these skills quickly.

We must not forget what a pet supposes

Just as we talked about the responsibility of having a living being living with us. From here we also want to list some inconveniences with which we expect you to weigh well the decision to acquire or not a pet.

Do not forget that once you adopt an animal abandonment can not be an option. There they go:

They require time and a lot of attention. If you are no longer pet you are overwhelmed with your schedule, a pet will worsen your situation.
In many occasions your pet will limit you in your outings with friends. As we discussed in advance, your routines are a must that you have to cover responsibly.
Animals can be harmful to some people. You should not put forward the desire to acquire a pet to your health or those who live with you or your care. Allergies are a good example.
A dog also means extra money. Ask yourself: can I afford a dog and treat it properly?

Once we have weighed all these aspects and taking into account that an animal is not a stuffed animal that you can get rid of if something is not going as well as you expected, without doubt, we recommend a furry little animal in your life.

From NatureVia we defend responsible adoption and ownership. This article is published for informational purposes only. It can not and should not replace the consultation with a Psychologist. We advise you to consult your trusted Psychologist.