Most of us agree that having a pet is good for you, science says that the power of having a pet could have a positive impact on your quality of life. Over 80 million U.S. households own a cat or dog, and millions more own fish, rabbits, reptiles, birds, and more.
Many people who get a pet do it for fun or companionship or snuggles. In addition to those inherent perks, having a pet is also good for you!
This makes caring for a pet a real win-win situation, because while you’re caring for your pet by giving them the food, water, exercise, and affection they need to thrive, they’re also benefiting your physical and mental health in surprising and powerful ways.
Taking care of your health is one of the most important things you can do to improve or maintain your quality of life. And while everybody knows you should exercise, eat healthy, and get enough sleep, not everyone realizes that caring for a pet can help enrich your health in a variety of ways.
Owning a pet is a great way to build more physical activity in your daily life. Studies have shown the link between dog ownership and physical activity, and other pets (like horses) can have a similar effect.
Not only does having a dog make you more likely to get your butt outside and take a walk everyday, but it also helps make your daily exercise more fun! Taking your dog to a park to play catch, frisbee, or another game might not feel like exercise, but your body will benefit from that physical activity nonetheless.
Many people have written at length about the deep and rewarding sense of companionship that comes from taking care of a pet. According to the Human-Animal Bond Research Institute, 85% of people agree that pets help reduce feelings of loneliness.
And that makes sense, doesn’t it? After all, pets are incredibly loyal creatures who often love to play and snuggle. Many people find that having an animal companion can help increase feelings of social support, helping them to feel more connected with the world.
There’s no doubt that modern life is filled with stressors that can cause us to feel frequently anxious. And while there are many different ways to reduce stress—like doing yoga, meditating, and taking our Calm CBD Gummies (containing full-spectrum hemp extract plus calming lemon balm)—another surefire way of reducing stress is to care for a pet.
Being around pets can help reduce cortisol, a stress-related hormone. This has been shown to occur after about ten minutes of petting a cat or dog. There’s just something about the affectionate nature of a pet that helps us to relax and feel a little more at ease.
Pets are often used to help improve outcomes for people with many different mental health conditions, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), autistic disorder, depression, and more. Pets have been shown to be especially helpful as we grow older. It’s no wonder the use of therapy dogs has proliferated in recent years.
Studies have consistently shown that pet ownership tends to lower the risk of high blood pressure. Researchers theorize this could be due to a variety of reasons, such as pets having a calming influence on their owners.
Another study showed that people who owned a cat or dog were less likely to experience spikes in blood pressure—and that they recovered more quickly from such spikes. Given how important it is to maintain a healthy cardiovascular system, the benefit of decreased blood pressure is no small matter.
We’ve talked a lot about the health benefits of pets for you, the owner. But what can you do to help your beloved pet stay healthy and happy? Of course you have to do all the essentials like feed, walk, and water them. And if you own a dog, consider some of our popular CBD products for dogs.
Dogs have an endocannabinoid system, just like humans do, which means their bodies experience many of the same CBD benefits that you do.
If you’re not sure which product to try first, our CBD Oil for Dogs is always a fantastic choice. Or you can find more targeted products, such as Calming CBD Chews for Dogs (great for dogs that tend to get anxious or rambunctious) and Hip and Joint CBD Chews for Dogs (a great way to help your dog maintain healthy joints and connective tissue).
If you’re on the fence about getting a dog, a cat, or even a toucan, we hope this article has helped you understand some of the many health benefits of pets. Or if you already have a pet, we hope it’s helped you appreciate just how special your furry little friend really is.
