Is it right that having pets at home reduce the mental strain?

Question

If u have the best answer for this question then share it with me.

Answer 1

Research has shown that heart attack victims who have pets live longer. Even watching a tank full of tropical fish may lower blood pressure, at least temporarily. A study of 92 patients hospitalized in coronary care units for angina or heart attack found that those who owned pets were more likely to be alive a year later than those who did not. The study found that only 6 percent of patients who owned pets died within one year compared with 28 percent of those who did not own pets.

The therapeutic use of pets as companions has gained increasing attention in recent years for a wide variety of patients -people with AIDS or cancer, the elderly, and the mentally ill. Unlike people, with whom our interactions may be quite complex and unpredictable, animals provide a constant source of comfort and focus for attention. Animals bring out our nurturing instinct. They also make us feel safe and unconditionally accepted. We can just be ourselves around our pets.

Research has shown that pet ownership can:
bulletReduce stress-induced symptoms.

In a study people undergoing oral surgery spent a few minutes watching tropical fish in an aquarium. The relaxation level was measured by their blood pressure, muscle tension, and behavior. It was found that the subjects who watched the fish was much more relaxed than those who did not watch the fish prior to the surgery. People who watched the fish was as calm as another group that had been hypnotized before the surgery. Other researchers have found that:


Petting a dog has been shown to lower blood pressure.


Bringing a pet into a nursing home or hospital can boost peoples' moods and enhance their social interaction.

bulletRequires Less Medical Care

A study conducted at UCLA found that dog owners required much less medical care for stress-induced aches and pains than non-dog owners.

bulletAdd years to your life

In a study conducted at City Hospital in New York, it was found that heart patients who owned the pets were significantly more likely to be alive a year after they were discharged from the hospital than those who didn't own pets. The presence of a pet was found to give higher boost to the survival rate than having a spouse or friends.
http://www.holisticonline.com/stress/stress_pet-therapy.htm

Answer 2

I believe that having a pet does reduce mental strain...

Imagine coming home and here sits fluffy or Bruno.. Just waiting for you ..They love to get attention and that feeling of attention ( in other words feeling needed) makes us feel good..

There are studies that were done with Senior Citizen Nursing homes ... They wanted to see if incorporating animals into the Seniors enviroment would lead to less depression/anxiety etc... and it was true

My grandpa is in a nursing home that has 3 live in cats ... Its soo cool to see them playing and having fun with the Seniors..
Animals do reduce stress..


But there is a catch..

You have to make sure that the pet you get is the right one for you..In other words don't get a big dog and stick him in an apartment.

Cats are a good 1st pet to me because they are very independant..They are lovable and very playful but yet do not need that constant love that dogs require...

Also, how many is a stress issue.. If you have too many pets , the opposite can occur..Well, atleast for some people:)
I have 7 cats and 2 dogs and I love being able to have something that needs my attention...

Having a pet does lower your blood pressure

..But with it also comes a new responsibility..For example,. Fido cannot be left alone for a weekend so you can go visit parents etc..

See so alot of it depends on YOU as a person... Would a pet be a strain.. Well really , that depends on YOU,.,

Hope I could help....

Answer 3

I think they do... but they cause mental strain too... some pets can be destructive. Dogs and cats. Or stinky and that's bad for mental strain. But if you love to watch animals, pet animals, or have an animal learn to trust you I think you will benefit.

Some here have posted that it reduces the heart pressure to have an animal to pet an love. Those are lovely animals, usually trained. Unless you have time for a pet you aren't going to have a very trained pet and this is going to cause you mental stress, not give you peace. Imagine having your pet in a crate for 9 hrs while you are at work. Or worse, my dog has chewed up three couches when he was a puppy. Oh how I cried... but he's 10 now so we've been very peaceful for a long time.

I do like fish though and they're pretty easy to do but even though I have them and they're easier than my two dogs it's hard to know who to ask if you have a problem.

If you are ready to make a lifestyle change and a committment, do it! I really have enjoyed my six and three year old gold fishes and my 10 year old dog.

Answer 4

Yes it does, if the pet is socialized and trained properly. I adopted a kitty three months ago and he is a joy to have around. He knows my rules and I believe that helps him feel happy and safe in a predictable environment. For the first month though I almost gave him back because he was such a psycho kitty, always waking me up and night, knocking things over and screeching like a banshee. A pet does not ALWAYS reduce mental strain. It's up to the pet owner to create a harmonious relationship.

Answer 5

Having a well trained pet can definitely reduce your stress level if the stress is from the outside world, but if the stress is at home, then a pet probably won't help. And an untrained pet will add tons of stress to your life. Really need more information to give you a good answer.

Answer 6

Just by having pets at home may not reduce mental strain. Instead it may increase your mental stress if you are not good in handling and managing pets. Pet care is a passion. You should have it in your blood.

Keeping pets at home in not justified if you are keeping them just to entertin yourself or reduce your stress. Pets are much more sensitive and sensible than human beings and so demand a proper attention and preventive care against ailments and much more than that.

In nut-shell, you will feel very happy, excited and full of life only if you are able provide all the care, affection and needs that a pet derserve...no matter its a dog, cat or parrot

Answer 7

Evidence shows that having a pet can reduce stress and lower blood pressure. Pets can fill your day, whether that be good or bad. I have a dog and I'm not sure how my life would be without him. He greets me at the door and follows me everywhere. I somtimes wonder whether he is more important to me or I to him. Either way what's the worst that can happen, provided you don't have an animal trained to kill.

Answer 8

Dogs if trained with care, can help in many ways. Yes they reduce mental sterss. They r excellent companions, friends and even lovers. They will shower u with love and affection no matter how u r feling. They make u feel v v hppy by doing this expression of pure love. Absolutely selfless and unselfish. They will shower u with their licks even if u either respond or not. to hug a dog makes u feels so much relieving. They keep themself clean. so there is no danger as long as they are vaccinated, u can be safe even if they lick ur mouth.

Answer 9

Yes -

Dogs are said to be very theraputic. Some breeds though seem more theraputic than others.

I have heard that golden ret. are very calming?
I have an American Akita. I know they are used in Hospitals and even Zoo's. There are a number of prisons that employ dogs to work with the inmates. It is said that it reduces the tension in the air making for better tempremant of inmates.

Answer 10

It's very soothing to sit and pet a quiet cat or dog, as it brings out nurturing instinct in most humans. However, if you get a highly strung animal that is running around clawing up furniture or barking madly, it can have the opposite effect. If you want to get a quiet pet, adopt a mature cat or dog from an animal shelter. Before you go through with it, watch them for a while and ask to pet them to see how they like you.