Blog 9: The Wonders of Pet Therapy

Hello everyone and welcome back! Last week, I suggested taking a day to yourself without using any source of electronics as a way to destress and use that time to self-reflect, exercise, enjoy the outside, go out with friends, or to make a personal bucket list of things that you would like to complete. Especially since, the excessive use of electronics is unhealthy and can result in addictive behavior. This week however, we will talk about the beneficial health aspects of pet therapy. If you have not heard of pet therapy before, the concept is to have the individual exposed to an interaction with an animal to help that individual cope with their physical health diagnosis or mental health disorder. Personally, I have the good fortune of living with my own adorable little dog, who is feisty, protective, loving, and playful all rolled into one. She is truly a family member and is able to sense my emotional state and determine when she should give me extra love and attention. In every aspect, she is a treasure. However, having a pet companion is not limited to just dogs, it can be whatever is applicable and suitable to your wants and needs. Especially, if you are allergic to most animals like I am. Luckily, my companion is a hypoallergenic dog and has no shedding. According to Katcher & Friedmann, pets can significantly contribute to providing “. . . companionship and pleasurable activity, facilitating exercise, play and laughter, beings something to care for and a source of consistency, allowing feelings of security, being a comfort to touch and pleasurable to watch” (as cited in Brodie & Biley, 1999, p. 330). In addition, according to Brodie & Biley, having a pet companion does improve the owner’s physical health, such as reducing the risk of cardiac problems, lowering blood pressure, and improving overall general health (Brodie & Biley, 1999, p. 334). However, owning a pet is a big commitment to make and can be expensive. When making the decision to own a pet, make sure you take into account the amount of time, attention, and expense is required. Even so, owning a pet like my dog is worth all of that and then some because she not only gives me companionship, exercise, and helps to relieve my stress, she gives me her unconditional love and loyalty. If you have your own personal stories to share about your pets, please do! If you are willing, you can even send some photos of the various pets you own! Stay tuned and stay healthy for next time!!

#loveyourpet #petappreciation #pettherapy

Please reach out or comment below on any personal experiences that you feel comfortable sharing!

References:

Brodie, S., & Biley, F. (1999). An exploration of the potential benefits of pet-facilitated therapy. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 8(4), 329-337. http://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/3a06/2ddcd075ecfcac6ac77282412ac825e6ef07.pdf