Medical Self-Care: How Pets Keep Us Healthy
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Among other benefits, our pets provide us with an intimate
bond with another living being. Such bonds—like the
intimacy of close human relationships—seem to produce
a kind of antistress armor that protects us from the
pressures that might otherwise predispose us to illness.
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Pets as Family
University of Maryland researcher Dr. Ann Cain found that
87% of pet owners thought of their pets as members of the
family; 81% felt that pets tuned in to their feelings; and
38% celebrated their pet's birthday.
Pets can help bring families together by promoting
interaction among family members, by relieving the stress
of simply being a busy parent or a growing child,
and by helping children learn the importance of
responsibility and discipline.
Even a pet's death can serve to bring family members closer
together. "Shared feelings of grief can form a strong
family bond," says Dr. Michael Fox, scientific director of
the Humane Society of the United States, "uniting children
and parents in love and respect." Many older people feel a
need for more love and affection. "Companion animals may be
a significant source of warmth, affection, love, and
devotion," Dr. Bustad writes. "In some cases animals are
the only source. In many cases, a pet becomes a
person's reason for living."
Pets as Therapists
Animals can often help those who can no longer be helped by
other people; in particular, pets can help people who feel
withdrawn, depressed, or hopeless. Emotionally disturbed
children who refuse to interact with human therapists will
frequently become very involved with a dog and may even
confide in it. Once the child and the dog have begun to
play, the therapist may be able to join in. Child and
therapist may later go on to form a direct relationship.
Pets and Stress
The dog who greets us at home or the cat who chases a bit
of string or hides in an empty paper bag provides us with
an invitation to laugh, relax, and enjoy ourselves. The
blood pressures of hypertensive patients have dropped
considerably while watching tropical fish. Looking at fish
tanks has also helped anxious patients relax before oral
surgery.
