Besides having a dog to watch your property, have you ever considered the other benefits of your canine friends? Dogs are known to be man’s best friend, a companion that is always there for you in times of trouble.
Science has discovered that dogs are an integral part of human recovery after sickness and are a healthy option for loneliness. They are obedient and don’t talk back.
You can train a dog to behave like a two-year-old child, and those with higher intelligence can reach the level of a four-year-old child.
Continue reading to find out 10 health benefits that come with having a four-legged friend.
10. They Improve Heart Health
Not only do your dogs fill your heart with warmth, but they also make your heart stronger. Many studies reveal that owning a dog as a companion reduces high blood pressure, lowers cholesterol and brings down triglyceride.
Your overall cardiovascular health is more secures, and the likelihood of a heart attack is also lessened. And if a dog owner gets a heart attack, his survival rate is higher than that of others after recovery.
9. They Keep You Active and Fit
Dog owners walk quite a bit. The 2 1/2 hour moderate exercise that experts say adults should get per week is easily accomplished when walking your dog. The activity of walking the dog helps people to keep fit, healthy and mobile in their 70s and 80s.
A study published in Gerontologists discovered that older persons who walked their dogs have a lower body mass index and fewer daily living limitations.
8. They Help You Lose Weight
Daily dog walks help you stay active, which could result in weight loss. Walking your dogs forces you into moderate physical exercise. In 2010 a small study showed that public housing residents who walk their dogs five days per week lost 14.4 pounds, on average over a year. Participants were only doing their responsibility to the dogs.
7. They Improve Your Social Life
At a certain age, going out to socialize feels like a chore. But that doesn’t hold true for dog owners. Research also found that 40% of dog owners make friends easier than others, especially with other dog owners.
Dog owners are a bit more extroverted and outgoing. They begin to bloom when you talk to them about their animals and are excited to share stories.
6. They are Stress Reducers
Therapy dogs are effective at what they do. Spending just a few minutes with these loving pets lower your blood pressure and anxiety. In doing so, serotonin and dopamine, which are two neurochemicals, assist with a feeling of calm and well-being.
When you are overwhelmed and stressed, put a dog in the mix, and immediately the pressure drops. Studies also show that dogs ease tension in marriages or at the office.
5. They Add Purpose
For retirees, it is sometimes difficult to find structure and meaning for the rest of their lives. A companion dog will take care of that. When you are around them, you must be in action. You may be emotionally or physically unsound, but your dog relies on you for food, walks and love giving you great purpose.
4. They Pull You Out Of Depression
Dog owners are less prone to depression than those without dogs. Research shows that dog owners, like women in isolation and HIV-positive men, suffer less from depression than those who are pet-less. And it is proven that dogs don’t have that sort of impact on those who are whole.
3. Prevent Allergies To Children
There was a time when people believed that a dog in the home contributes to kids’ allergies. Recent research shows, however, that it’s the opposite.
Dogs and cats in the home lower a child’s chance of developing allergies to pets, up to 33%. That’s according to the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. The kids may even develop sturdier immune systems.
2. Reduce Visits To The Doctor
Those over 65 who own a pet will seek medical help 30% less than those who don’t own a pet. A study shows that seniors on Medicare had fewer doctoral contact over one year than others without pets. Dogs had the most impact on people as part of their lives compared to birds, cats and other animals.
1. Can Detect Disease and Injury
It’s widely accepted that owning a dog allows caregivers and patients alike to detect and manage illness and debilitation. That’s because some dogs are trained to sniff out skin, bladder, prostate cancer and other illnesses.
Dogs in special services also benefit people with traumatic brain injury, autism, rheumatoid, arthritis, promoting independence and increasing mobility. Dogs soothe Alzheimer’s patients, and the dog’s companionship also prevents emotional turmoil and aggression.
Dogs are an essential part of the human landscape, doing their job of healing in particular areas. However, they are also the cause of 86,000 falls per year, causing serious injuries, reports the Center for Disease Control and Administration, CDC.
So when you are seeking to adopt a dog, do your due diligence, and ensure you take steps to mitigate the dangers of falling. If you are a caregiver, do the necessary training to keep your client safe around the home or wherever people hang with their dogs.
