by Louise Nilon

Created on: September 28, 2010

Owning a pet has many benefits but many people don't know that owning a pet can be beneficial to your health. There are many ways in which owning a pet can be beneficial to your health and it is not just the obvious pets such as dogs that can give health benefits.

Owning any pet can give your life a meaning of self-worth. The thought that another creature is depending on you has huge mental health benefits. Even having to feed a faithful pet goldfish can give a person suffering from severe depression a reason to get out of bed in a morning.

One of the key ways a pet improves your health is by decreasing stress levels, they do this in a number of ways.

The unconditional love offered to you by your pet is also beneficial to your health. Feeling loved helps decrease your stress levels, no matter how bad your day your pet will still love you. you can moan, whinge and whine about how bad your day was to your pet and they will still look at you with a loving face.

Cats are also scientifically proven to help your mental health. A happy contented cat purring away on your lap has a cathartic, relaxing effect, helping to calm down a person as well as being very enjoyable to the cat! In fact stroking any kind of pet, from a big fluffy dog to a tiny hamster can help to reduce your blood pressure .

Pets with the most obvious health benefits are those that need exercising. Dogs are the most obvious pets that fall into this category. Their need for walks two or three times daily means as an owner you are forced into exercising whatever the weather with no excuses! Dogs will look at you and often whine at you until you take them for a walk, their little guilt trips can be just the kick you need to get moving and can be just as persuasive as any personal trainer!

Another animal with a very obvious impact on your health is a horse, owning a horse will inevitably have health benefits, riding them and mucking out stables will help to increase both your strength and stamina. Getting out in the fresh air and coutryside will also help to reduce your stress levels and improve your mental health.

Another way in which pets can improve your health are by increasining your social interactions, both with your pet and with other people. Owning a dog can be a social activity, joining dog training classes and walking your dog you meet other people which combats loneliness and in turn can help combat any mental health issues.

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