Le Petit Blog / pet health

Pets and a Balanced Life

Pets and a Balanced Life

Pets and a Balanced Life

By: Roxana Oliver

 

Usually, we decorate our home in a way that will help us achieve balance in our lives. We paint our walls in bright colors, we fill our corners with houseplants, we pick prints that are pleasant to our eyes and pay extra attention at the overall décor.

However, we often tend to forget that the biggest part of a warm, homey feeling is in liveliness, which only a pet can provide. You know what they say: getting a pet is the only way of getting love for money. Your home is going to be filled with unconditional loyalty, companionship and love.

This article is going to show you all the benefits of having a pet, and also give you some tricks on best ways to share your home space with them to make your life easier and healthier.

First things first

Before deciding to get yourself a new friend, there are some things you need to think about. It is a serious investment, so you need to have all the information.

Are you responsible enough?

 

Are you aware of the fact that you are going to need to take care of this little creature for the rest of its life? The average lifespan of dogs and cats is approximately 12 years – which is definitely a long-term commitment. Sure, taking care of a cute puppy is a piece of cake, but taking care of an adult dog is a little bit more serious.

Can you afford it?

Having a pet has its costs. You will need to cover their vaccinations, de-sexing and micro chipping. And that’s without factoring in food, worming, health checks, vet bills, boarding, all kinds of pet accessories, toys etc. Also, you always need to be sure that you can pay for any emergency and treatment.

Of course, pet costs depend on the type of animal you choose, but all in all, having a pet is not a cheap addition to the family.

Do you know how to take care for it?

 

Your responsibility as a pet owner is to do a thorough research about the specific needs of your future pet. Gather all the information you can about your chosen breed. If you are adopting, make sure you visit a relevant adopting organization and talk to someone who has all of the information. This includes the breeders as well.

Do you have time?

 

You will need to make a considerable amount of time each day to give your pet the right care, especially when they’re little. There are things such as exercise, grooming, socialization, feeding, training, playtime etc.

Benefits of having pets

Now, the thing why we’re here for. First of all, pets provide us with the luxury of their companionship. The presence of a pet in our home can immediately boost your mood. There is nothing that brings a smile on one’s face like a happy dog, who is anxious for your affection and waiting for you after a long and stressful day at work. Besides this, pets are amazing for our mental health. People get unconditional love and affection, which is a great confidence booster.

Another great thing about pets is that they can help you teach your children responsibility. Daily responsibilities like feeding, exercising and overall looking after the animal, as well as illnesses and losses, are going to provide your children with valuable experiences that will help them in their future life.

And this is still not the end. Pets can also provide us with certain health benefits such as:

Fighting allergies

Contrary to the old belief that, if you live in an allergy-prone family, you should avoid having pets; countless studies showed that kids who grow up in homes with furred animals have less risk of getting allergies, asthma and eczema. Instead, the immune system chemicals values in their bodies get higher. After all, we are all familiar with the fact that babies who have bigger exposure to dirty objects and allergens will have a much stronger immune system than those who aren’t exposed to the dirt at all. 

Good for the heart

People with heart diseases who have pets survive much longer than those who don’t. Apparently, they have lower triglyceride and cholesterol levels.

Mind and soul

Playing with a pet increases dopamine and serotonin levels – nerve transmitters that affect our mood and keep us calm. Basically, pets are healthy substitutions for drugs.

Dogs for the elderly

Many studies have shown that Alzheimer’s patients with pets have far less anxious outbursts than those without pets. Also, their caregivers are less burdened when there is an animal, especially a cat which requires minimal care. Walking a pet can provide elderly people with exercise they need, as well as companionship.

Having a pet is not an easy task, but it will all be worth it once you realize that this creature loves you more than you love yourself.

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Want to check out our puurfect gifts for your cat lover? Check out our pawsome faves!

 

About the author:

Roxana is a travel enthusiast and lifestyle consultant from Sydney and she loves to write about her adventures. She is all about the healthy lifestyle, loves to run with her husband and dogs and has fun cooking exotic meals for her family. Being a typical Aussie, she often hits the waves and loves beaches and sunshine! You can find out more about her writing following her on twitter and facebook. She is also one of the editors at Higstylife Magazine.
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