It’s important to remember that your pet is not just a companion but they’re also a way to achieve your lifestyle goals. This factor, in conjunction with other benefits of owning a pet, is encouraging many individuals to own a pet, even in developed countries like the United States.
In fact, 70% of U.S. households have a pet, as revealed in a recent survey conducted by American Pet Products Association. That means there are 90.5 million homes in the U.S. with pets. And that number is only growing. But why do so many people choose to own a pet?
It turns out there are plenty of benefits to owning a pet that goes beyond just having someone to cuddle with at night. Pets can help you achieve the goals which you were determined to achieve but could not due to any reasons.
There are numerous benefits of owning pets, including they help you achieve your health and lifestyle goals.
Increases Your Physical Activity
Each one of us wants to have one thing in common: we all want to lead a healthy and active lifestyle. The good news is that there are many ways to achieve this goal, and one of them is having a pet.
According to research, dog owners are roughly four times more likely than non-owners to adhere to current physical activity recommendations. This means that people who own pets are more likely to be active. Thus, pet owners are less likely to develop chronic health conditions that occur due to physical inactivity.
It’s easy to see why this might happen: Having a canine companion encourages you to get outside, walk around the neighborhood, and even play fetch in the park. It also encourages you to get up off the couch and go for a run or bike ride when your pup needs some exercise time.
What does this mean for you? It means that if you’re looking for a way to increase your physical activity, a pet could be the answer.
As a pet owner, however, you must reciprocate your pet’s care and love in a similar manner. There’s a way to reciprocate that love: ensuring your pet’s health. Pets, especially dogs, are more likely to suffer from skin allergies, causing them itching and inflammation. Such problems make them uncomfortable and sick.
However, FDA-approved drugs like Apoquel can help your dog feel better. Apoquel for dogs is an FDA-approved drug that is effective in eliminating itching and inflammation in dogs. It is available at a very affordable price without any side effects.
Improves Your Mental Health
Pets are not just animals. They are our friends and our confidants. Pets can reduce stress and even help you achieve your lifestyle goals like getting improved mental health. Pet ownership is particularly beneficial during difficult phases like the global pandemic.
A recent study published in Science Daily found that pet owners experienced the overall positive impact of owning a pet during the pandemic. The research also revealed that owners who had more interaction with their animals during the pandemic reported feeling better and more fulfilled as compared to non-owners. This could be because interacting with pets helps people cope with stressful situations better than other forms of therapy.
Moreover, pets can reduce the possibility of loneliness and depression. In fact, the prevalence of depression among pet owners was 41% less as compared to non-owners, as found in research published by the National Library of Medicine.
And, of course, there’s another reason why having a pet can help your mental health: because it’s fun. They’re always there for playful activities and cuddle up when you need them most.
Help Build a Routine
Most of us face challenges while we try to achieve our fitness goals. For some of you, maybe losing weight or maybe starting exercising regularly could be the goal. Maybe you want to be in the best shape of your life after a difficult life phase. Whatever it is, it’s not easy, and building a routine can be even harder.
Luckily, there’s a way. It’s easy to underestimate the power of pets when we can afford expensive gym memberships to achieve and build a routine. However, this assumption might be wrong.
According to research, working out with pets encourages people to commit to their fitness routine with more force. Whether it’s taking your dog for a walk every morning or just playing with your cat at home, having a pet can help you stay motivated and committed to being healthy.
However, make sure your schedule accommodates your pet’s needs. For example, if your dog needs feeding at 6 am and 8 pm every day, then make sure those are times when you’re home so that they don’t go hungry.
Also, it’s important to ensure that there’s room for both of you in your day-to-day life. If you work full-time and spend most of your free time at home, it might not be feasible for both of you to be present all day long.
Helps You Connect With New People
In the era where people explore social media to find and meet new people, it’s difficult to digest that pets can help their owners meet new people. Yes, it’s true!
As per studies, pet owners know their neighbors better than the ones without a pet. Moreover, pets give you the opportunity to talk with people who share similar interests as you.
In addition, many pet owners are also more likely to connect well with other pet owners than they could with non-pet owners. When you have a furry friend, you can talk about everything from what kind of food they like to how much exercise they need on any given day.
You don’t have to worry about being judged when you’re talking about your pets, it’s easy for people who love animals as much as you do.
Summing Up
As you can see, owning a pet is a great way to achieve your lifestyle goals. Your pet will give you unconditional love, which empowers you to live a happier and more fulfilled life. Also, these companions will keep you active and help you achieve better mental health, thus ensuring longevity.
Hence, if you’re looking to improve your health or just have more fun in life, consider adopting a new furry friend.
