Does Owning a Pet Make You Healthier?

Doesn’t the thought of coming home to a little pooch eager to meet you, clamouring up, and almost knocking you down with a gigantic hug sound great? Forget about traffic, a pet at home would make you forget about any overbearing office stress in no time at all. And where there are so many reasons to have a pet, what about health? Does having a pet make you healthier? Will you be fitter if you have a dog or a cat to take care of? Let’s list out just some of the health benefits – both mental and physical – that come with having a pet.

A Pet Keeps You Active: Having a pet comes with its share of responsibilities, especially when it’s a dog you’re talking about. “Depending on the breed, a dog needs to be taken out thrice a day for about 15-20 minutes,” says Mumbai-based veterinarian dermatologist and physician Deepa Katyal. That adds up to an average of 60 minutes a day, which means you end up burning approximately 300 calories a day!

“If you own a breed known for being active, like a Doberman or a Labrador, he/she will want to play games like frisbee and catch with you too,” Katyal adds. That means more calories burned and a fitter you.

Pets Leads to Emotional Fulfilment: “It is a proven fact, that pet owners are happier individuals,” says Mumbai-based Psychologist Sharita Shah. According to her, having a pet brings out qualities in you that may have been latent otherwise. “Example, responsibility; while caring for a pet- be it a dog, a cat, bird or even fish, you need to be responsible to feed it, keep its tank/cage clean and in case of a dog, walk it at least twice a day. Pets also benefit the person’s relationship towards other people. It makes them more consistent. The stronger your bond with your pet, the better your other relationships get.”

Dr.Deepa Katyal, could not agree more. “Spending time with your pet helps your brain release endorphins, the happy hormones. Touching their coats or getting licks and being jumped at certainly elevates your mood.” Also, pets give you unconditional love. There’s nothing more we could ask for, right?

My Pet Makes My Day! “If you are talking about physical health, yes pets keep you on your toes. They need to be walked, played with and taken out for lots of exercise. My sister and I take out our Cocker Spaniel Oreo for walks to the racecourse. We play ball with him which requires a lot of running. He keeps us emotionally healthier too as he loves us unconditionally. It feels good to come home to someone who is jumping to see you.” says Urvi Khatau, 23-year old Interior Designer.

At 40, Hari K. knows a thing or two about how his pet Labrador keeps him healthy: “She will jump and wag at me till I take her out for a walk or play with her. It’s thanks to her that I am fit and agile. At the end of the day, just coming back to someone who’s jumping to see me, makes my day,” says the banker.

We can’t help but nod aye to all of it- pets do make us happier and healthier individuals. Come to think of it – have you every seen anyone with a pet being frumpy or sad for too long?