It’s no surprise that dogs can make us feel better. However, their impact goes further than emotional support. In addition to their joyous nature, dogs have been shown to make a world of difference in our overall health.
Whether it be through the prevention, detection, or management of a particular health condition, a dog could be your greatest supporter of a happy, healthy life.
Prevention
Any dog owner understands the work that comes with caring for their four-legged friend. They require daily exercise, proper nutrition, as well as regular socialization. These are the foundations of a healthy lifestyle for us too!
Simple activities such as going on daily walks and playing fetch start to add up over time. This accumulation can have a huge impact on energy, mood, as well as overall fitness levels. Additionally, taking your dog to public spaces can help you to develop a greater social life.
Caring for another living thing encourages us to properly care for ourselves as well. The habitual changes involved in dog ownership could spark unexpected yet significant improvements in your own physical, mental, and even social well-being.
Early Detection
Dogs possess heightened senses that grant them the extraordinary ability to detect certain health defects. For instance, they are able to sniff out diseases such as Cancer, Parkinson’s, Diabetes, and Malaria. Some have even been recorded to detect disease in patients years before onset occurs. Having this early warning allows patients to get faster and more effective treatment before damages become too severe.
Dogs have also been shown to predict migraines, anxiety attacks, and epileptic seizures based on the subtle changes to a person’s breath. Once again, being given prior notice gives the individual time to prepare for an attack by taking medication or moving to a safer environment.
Management
If prevention is not possible, dogs can help patients to better manage their symptoms.
A service dog could be an excellent resource for those suffering from a disease and/or disability. Depending on the individual’s needs, these dogs can be trained to aid in physical therapy, medication reminders, as well as routine tasks.
Dogs have been used as a focus for various physical therapy exercises. For instance, brushing a dog helps to rebuild the fine motor skills in victims of a brain or spine-related injury. Performing tasks such as filling food/water bowls or throwing tennis balls for the dog can be beneficial exercises for patients as well.
While dogs are great for practicing these various motions, their most important job may be to simply serve as a distraction from any pain or frustration experienced during the physical therapy session.
Dogs can also be trained to alert their owners to take their medications and accomplish other various tasks difficult for those with health ailments. Even something as simple as removing their owner’s socks can make life seem more manageable.
Aside from performing functional duties, dogs also provide hope and comfort to those who need it the most. Living with a chronic condition is often accompanied by feelings of anxiety, depression, and loneliness. Dogs are the ultimate companions to help combat these negative feelings and provide patients with a more optimistic outlook.
The sad reality is that caring for a dog can become the sole reason to live for someone facing such strenuous challenges. This is where the previously mentioned social benefits of owning a dog come into play. Despite the associated health advantages, a dog should not become the sole purpose of living due to their shorter life spans and inability to be present for patients that may suddenly require more extensive forms of treatment. However, promoting socialization can help their owner build relationships with people who may be able to support them if and when the dog cannot.
Conclusion
Dogs aren’t just wonderful pets. They are also remarkable advocates of public health. Their biological talents as well as their innate desire to serve their respective owners make them the perfect guides for living a healthy lifestyle, regardless of your current condition.
Engaging with a service dog can not only slow the damage caused by a particular disease/disability, but in some cases, it can reverse the effects. Even if you don’t suffer from a health condition, owning a dog as a personal pet can significantly diminish your chances of ever developing one.
