10/10/2021
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Have you ever noticed that you feel better when you're around your pet? 🐾
It's true! Spending quality time with a dog, cat or other animal can have a positive impact on your mood and your health 🐾
Pets can be calming stress-fighters 💚🐾
Pets can help you in other ways, too.
1. A Healthier Heart
Your dog may make you less likely to get heart disease. Why? Dog owners walk more and have lower blood pressure than people who don't have dogs.
Pets can also be good for you if you already have heart problems
2. Stress Soothers
Petting your cat or dog feels good. It can lower your blood pressure, helps your body release a relaxation hormone, and cuts down on levels of a stress hormone. It also soothes your pet
3. Social Magnets
Pets, especially dogs, can help you connect with other people. People who use wheelchairs say that other people make eye contact with them more often and ask if they can be of help when they're with their dogs
4. Better Mood, More Meaning
People with pets are generally happier, more trusting, and less lonely than those who don't have pets. They also visit the doctor less often for minor problems. A pet can give you a sense of belonging and meaning
5. Benefits for Baby’s Immune System
Babies raised in families that have pets may be less likely to get allergies and asthma, some studies show.
Babies with dogs or cats at home have fewer colds and ear infections during their first year than babies living in pet-free homes, one study found.
6. Social Support for Autistic Children
Kids tend to relate better to their classmates who have autism when pets are in the classroom. Animals change the classroom environment and help to integrate those who are a little less typical. Once the children get involved with animals, they view each other more positively and work together better