Health benefits
Pets
might have the ability to stimulate their caregivers, in particular the
elderly, giving people someone to take care of, someone to exercise with, and
someone to help them heal from a physically or psychologically troubled past.
Animal company can also help people to preserve acceptable levels of happiness
despite the presence of mood symptoms like anxiety or depression. Having a pet
may also help people achieve health goals, such as lowered blood pressure, or
mental goals, such as decreased stress. There is evidence that having a pet can
help a person lead a longer, healthier life. In a 1986 study of 92 people
hospitalized for coronary ailments, within a year 11 of the 29 patients without
pets had died, compared to only 3 of the 52 patients who had pets. Having
pet(s) was shown to significantly reduce triglycerides, and thus heart disease
risk, in the elderly. A study by the National Institute of Health found that
people who owned dogs were less likely to die as a result of a heart attack than
those who didn’t own one. There is some evidence that pets may have a therapeutic
effect in dementia cases. Other studies have shown that for the elderly, good
health may be a requirement for having a pet, and not a result. Dogs trained to
be guide dogs can help people with vision impairment. Dogs trained in the field
of Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) can also benefit people with other
disabilities.
Pets in long-term care institutions
People
residing in a long-term care facility, such as a hospice or nursing home,
experience health benefits from pets. Pets help them to cope with the emotional
issues related to their illness. They also offer physical contact with another
living creature, something that is often missing in an elder's life. Pets for
nursing homes are chosen based on the size of the pet, the amount of care that
the breed needs, and the population and size of the care institution.
Appropriate pets go through a screening process and, if it is a dog, additional
training programs to become a therapy dog. There are three types of therapy
dogs: facility therapy dogs, animal-assisted therapy dogs, and therapeutic
visitation dogs. The most common therapy dogs are therapeutic visitation dogs.
These dogs are household pets whose handlers take time to visit hospitals,
nursing homes, detention facilities, and rehabilitation facilities. Different
pets require varying amounts of attention and care; for example, cats may have
lower maintenance requirements than dogs.
Connection with community
In
addition to providing health benefits for their owners, pets also impact the
social lives of their owners and their connection to their community. There is
some evidence that pets can facilitate social interaction. Assistant Professor
of Sociology at the University of Colorado at Boulder, Leslie Irvine has
focused her attention on pets of the homeless population. Her studies of pet
ownership among the homeless found that many modify their life activities for
fear of losing their pets. Pet ownership prompts them to be and act
responsibly, with many making a deliberate choice not to drink or use drugs,
and to avoid contact with substance abusers or those involved in any criminal
activity for fear of being separated from their pet. Additionally, many refuse
housing in shelters if their pet is not allowed to stay with them.
Health risks
Health
risks that are associated with pets include:
·
Aggravation of allergies and asthma caused by
dander and fur or feathers
·
Falling injuries. Tripping over pets, especially
dogs, causes more than 86,000 falls serious enough to prompt a trip to the
emergency room each year in the United States. Among elderly and disabled
people, these falls have resulted in life-threatening injuries and broken
bones.
·
Injury, mauling, and sometimes death caused by
pet bites and attacks
·
Disease or parasites due to animal hygiene
problems, lack of appropriate treatment, and undisciplined behavior (faeces and
urine)
·
Stress caused by behaviour of animals
Environmental impact
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