The Mental Health Benefits of Being a Pet Owner
Most pet owners consider their pets to be fully-fledged, official members of their families, and, when pets provide such loyal companionship, it’s really no surprise! In addition to making our lives fuller, pets also have a remarkably positive impact on their humans’ mental health. These are some of the most impressive ways pets improve the mental health of their human family members.
4 Ways Pets Benefit Our Mental Health
1. Feel Less Lonely
Pets make wonderful companions. They provide unconditional love, entertainment, binge-watching partners, and someone to listen to all of your worries without judgment.
Pets combat feelings of loneliness so well that they became one of the top remedies to social distancing-induced loneliness. Since the start of the pandemic, pet adoption rates skyrocketed. In fact, they were so high that some shelters didn’t have enough pets to meet the adoption demand.
2. Reduce Stress
Petting a dog or snuggling with your cat reduces the physical signs and symptoms of stress, thereby making you feel more relaxed. Individuals with pets enjoy lowered heart rate and blood pressure, more regular breathing, and relaxed muscle tension.
3. Create Social Bonds With More People
When you have a pet, you become a member of one of the best groups ever — pet owners! As a result, you’ll have more opportunities to bond with other dog or cat owners at the dog park, pet store, or while waiting at the veterinary hospital. So, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to build new friendships with people, too.
4. Be More Active
People who own pets — especially dogs that need walking — tend to be more active than people who don’t have a pet. This increased physical activity will boost your mood, reduce stress, and even relieve physical pain while your more active body releases exercise-induced endorphins.
Give Back to Your Pet With Excellent Veterinary Care in Redondo Beach
You love your pet, so it’s important to provide them with top-notch veterinary care to ensure they can live the longest, healthiest, and happiest life possible. At Pacific Animal Hospital of Redondo Beach, our veterinarian provides patients with comprehensive, personalized wellness and preventative care in addition to sick pet care and more! When you establish your pet’s care with our animal hospital, we’ll start your pet on a path to living a healthy life.
To learn more about our veterinary care services and animal hospital or to schedule an appointment, we welcome you to contact our Redondo Beach veterinary office today.