This is the last post of a 3 part series on the subject of health and pets.  Most pet owners are not getting the benefits of the pet/owner bond because they haven’t developed a deep bond with thier pet.

Of course, creating a deep bond starts with picking out a suitable pet.  Yes all puppies are adorable and tug at our heart strings, but they do grow up.  One thing to consider is the size of the animal.  Large dogs not only take up more room in the house, but their tails may knock things over (like off of tables and shelves), they will also eat a great deal more food than a small dog and they mature faster and die younger than small dogs do.

You also need to consider the needs of the breed.  Dogs were breed for certain traits, that why some dogs love to swim while others disdain being wet, and some dogs need to do alot of chasing and running, while others may be too sedentary.  Certain breeds like terriers and rottweilers have strong wills.  Also find out if the breed is good with children if you have any.  Make sure to teach your children not to pull the dogs ears and tail or try to ride on the dogs back.  This could cause even the most passive breeds to snap or growl not to mention the potential for physical damage to the dog.

Actually learning to train your pet can help create a very deep bond.  Both animals and children feel more secure and free when they understand the expectations.  Extremely important is taking into consideration the differences in physical activity, etc. of pets.  Some pets were bred for hunting or other longevity activities such as biking and running.  Don’t expect a hound dog to go running with you.

Consider how well your pet would react to another four legged friend if you decide to have two or more pets.  Cats especially can be loners that truly resent sharing their turf with another cat.  The result could be as bad as the cat spraying all over the house to mark their territory.  Dogs can also get confused and have problems when there is more than one and they are treated as equals.  Remember in packs, there is a pecking order.

 If you have a condition such as diabetes, dogs have even been trained to work as a “medic alert”.  To wrap up this post, choose a dog that suits your preferences as far as expense, longevity and personality traits.  Make sure you spend time training your pet and interact with them by taking them for walks and playing with them in an appropriate manner.  Some dogs like cathc, but my terrier just stares at anything you thorw as though she doesn’t have a clue what you are doing.  She does however, like to play sock.  Remember pets are as different as people.

Good luck with any pet that you may choose and it is my sincerest hope that you will be able to get the full health and emotional benefits of having a pet.

Who would have ever thought that pets could be so important to the elderly.  Several studies have found that one month after acquiring a dog or cat, seniors had fewer minor medical problems (ie painful joints, anxiety, hay fever, indigestion, colds and flus, insomnia, back pains and headches).

Seniors need something to keep them active and out in the world, a pet can help them do this.  Being isolated is very conducive to depression.  Another observation made in one study was that seniors who owned pets tended to talk about things in the present while those without pets tended to talk about things in the past.  When we live in the past, we aren’t busy living.

I am sure most of you have read about the studies citing that petting a animal lowers the heart rate and blood pressure.  Of course, it’s not just the petting that we want a pet for.  It’s also the interaction, such as laughter and even disputes.  After all pets can do some of the funniest and most annoying things.  One of the most important benefits of having a pet is that feeling of unconditional love they give us and of course, they never say bad things about us, to us or even verbally disagree or back talk, etc.  You know the things that humans do that we frequently have issues with.

Mike was a communications engineer and a type A personality.  He just thrived on the adrenaline rush he received from being under the pressures of constant deadlines.  One day he received a full physical including a cardio stress test and received a clean bill of health.

The following day he had a major heart attack.  It turned out the he had a 100% blockage of the left side and a 99% blockage of the right side.  He was rushed to the hospital and scheduled for surgery the following morning.  Unfortunately that night he suffered another heart attack and was rushed into surgery for a triple bypass.  Mike determined that the heart attack wouldn’t stop him, threw himself into cardio rehab.  He suffered severe chest pains no matter how easy he took the rehab.  Because of this the clinic wanted his doctor to sign a waiver.  When his doctor refused, Mike gave up rehab.

Staying at home Mike became depressed.  He felt there was no purpose to his life.  His doctor suggested that they get a dog.  There was a study published in 1980 that showed that heart attack sufferers who owned pets had a four time better chance of surviving one year.  This study had recruited 96 people, of which 89 had reported monthly for a year.  Fifty of these people had pets and 39 of them did not.  Amazingly enough the death rate for those without pets was approximately 28% and the death rate for those with pets was only 6% that’s less than 1/4.

Mike’s dog would also “remind” Mike to take his medicine whenever he knew Mike was getting stressed.  Yes, animals do react to the way we feel.  Just observe your pet’s behavior (especially if it’s a dog).  Some other interesting studies have shown that after a heart attack dog owners had 8% fewer doctor visits and cat owners had 12% few doctor visits.  Studies have also shown that the pet owning population also took less medication for high blood pressure and cholesterol and didn’t have as much trouble falling asleep at night than non pet owners.

More about the health benefits of pets tomorrow.