Do pets effect overall health and well-being of adults?
Do you think your pets effect your overall health and well-being? Studies have shown that dogs are capable of reading your emotions, as well as increasing your physical activity which in return decreases your risk for cardiovascular diseases and other health issues. Authors such an Arhant-Sudhir of Pet ownership and cardiovascular risk reduction, found that those who had dogs as companions during tough times, visited the doctors far less. There are more to our animals than some of us may have thought. Looking further into a topic such as this, will aide in more programs such as pet aided therapies/ hospital visitations and fewer health risks. Pet therapy, especially with personal pets, can be very cost efficient and more enjoyable for patients
Physical Activity and Mental Health:
Having a pet (specifically a dog) can increase your physical activity and mental status more than you think. O’Keefe did a study on The Human-Canine Bond: A Heart's Best Friend. In his study, he found that the increase of physical activity you're getting from your dog helps prevent cardiovascular diseases and decreases anxiety, depression and other forms of distress. Of all the dogs that O’Keefe studied, he found Hounds to be the most beneficial with those components. Having a dog gives you the opportunity to receive physical activity every day from walks to cleaning up around the house when the make a mess. I can say firsthand that my new young hound has us going 24/7, and whenever I’m sick of chasing him around, I remember the physical activity I’m getting from it. Later, in the blog, we will touch base on how and where I myself have seen this impact the environment around me.
Keeping the Love Coming
It really is true that our pets can be our best friend. However, they want the loving in return. In his study of The question of whether animals have emotions and respond to the emotional expressions of others has become a focus of research in the last decade, Corsin studies how our animals, specifically dogs, read our emotions. While reading it was very fascinating to hear what he had to say. He resulted in this diagram above. In brief, if you are commanding your dog with positive words but with a harsh look on your face, your dog is reading your harsh looks and will react differently. Once your dog has read your face and their brain has decided what their reaction will be, they can’t undo it. But once you great them with a smile and positive words, you will have your sweet, kind friend back.
Personal Experience
I’ve seen this in a few ways in the real world. First, while working in the field as a Rehab Aide. I have been a seasonal Rehab Aide at Tewksbury State Hospital for 2 years now. Each summer we bring in multiple dogs weekly to each unit to visit with each patient who wants the interaction. Some patients interact during therapy sessions and some people just prefer the dog to visit their bedside. These visits, no matter what the environment of choice is, helps in regaining fine motor function. When patients in rehab see a dog that they want to pet, petting the dog comes to mind far before not wanting to be in pain from doing their exercise. Care like this is what we consider “Patient Centered Care”.
Another setting where I have seen this benefit well-being around me is in college. Here at Westfield State University, the school with the help of the community, hosts pet therapy groups multiple times a month. Many students living on campus are adjusting to living without their furry friends, which can be very difficult, even as a senior. The community volunteers to bring their dogs each week of all different breeds to cuddle and play with us. It’s incredible to see all the smiles when you walk into or even pass by this group (which it rarely ever happens that anyone would pass by without stopping). At stressful times of the semester, having the opportunity to take time for ourselves and unwind with our furry visitors is sometimes all it takes to make your day or even your week even just the slightest bit better.
Keeping the Love Coming
It really is true that our pets can be our best friend. However, they want the loving in return. In his study of The question of whether animals have emotions and respond to the emotional expressions of others has become a focus of research in the last decade, Corsin studies how our animals, specifically dogs, read our emotions. While reading it was very fascinating to hear what he had to say. He resulted in this diagram above. In brief, if you are commanding your dog with positive words but with a harsh look on your face, your dog is reading your harsh looks and will react differently. Once your dog has read your face and their brain has decided what their reaction will be, they can’t undo it. But once you great them with a smile and positive words, you will have your sweet, kind friend back.
Personal Experience
I’ve seen this in a few ways in the real world. First, while working in the field as a Rehab Aide. I have been a seasonal Rehab Aide at Tewksbury State Hospital for 2 years now. Each summer we bring in multiple dogs weekly to each unit to visit with each patient who wants the interaction. Some patients interact during therapy sessions and some people just prefer the dog to visit their bedside. These visits, no matter what the environment of choice is, helps in regaining fine motor function. When patients in rehab see a dog that they want to pet, petting the dog comes to mind far before not wanting to be in pain from doing their exercise. Care like this is what we consider “Patient Centered Care”.
Another setting where I have seen this benefit well-being around me is in college. Here at Westfield State University, the school with the help of the community, hosts pet therapy groups multiple times a month. Many students living on campus are adjusting to living without their furry friends, which can be very difficult, even as a senior. The community volunteers to bring their dogs each week of all different breeds to cuddle and play with us. It’s incredible to see all the smiles when you walk into or even pass by this group (which it rarely ever happens that anyone would pass by without stopping). At stressful times of the semester, having the opportunity to take time for ourselves and unwind with our furry visitors is sometimes all it takes to make your day or even your week even just the slightest bit better.
Bio: Soon to be graduate of Westfield State University, receiving my BS in Movement Science with a Sports Medicine concentration. Aspiring Occupational Therapist. Westfield State Dance Company Member. Seasonal employee at Tewksbury State Hospital.
Arhant-Sudhir, K., Arhant-Sudhir, R., & Sudhir, K. (2011). Pet ownership and cardiovascular risk reduction: Supporting evidence, conflicting data and underlying mechanisms. Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology, 38(11), 734–738.
Corsin A.Müller1, 1, KiraSchmitt1, Anjuli L.A.Barber1, LudwigHuber1, … Summary The question of whether animals have emotions and respond to the emotional expressions of others has become a focus of research in the last decade [1. (2015, February 12). Dogs Can Discriminate Emotional Expressions of Human Faces.
O'Keefe, J., O'Keefe, E. and Lavie, C. (2019). The Human-Canine Bond: A Heart's Best Friend.
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