By taking care of your pet you can improve your physical and mental health
Did you know that the hormone Oxytocin, which is secreted when the body experiences pleasure, is also secreted when a pet and its owner experience positive interactions with each other?
The stronger the bond between the person and their pet, the greater the possibility that the person will secrete this hormone, creating states of happiness and also health excellent household pets.
It has been proven that by having a close relationship with your pet and interacting with it regularly, a series of benefits appear in your life. For example, petting a pet for about 10 minutes or more can quickly relieve everyday stress and lower your blood pressure. The company of your pet can also improve your mental health by avoiding depression.
Your children will also benefit since several studies indicate that children who have grown up with pets are healthier, those who have lived with dogs or cats in their first year of life have fewer problems with ear infections, respiratory problems, and allergies than children who do not have pets.
Studies show that people who take care of their pets could also be healthier, because taking them for a walk or run and also actively playing with them provides exercise, having a positive impact on their body and mind. In particular, health benefits have been demonstrated by reducing the rate of cardiovascular problems.
Very specifically, dogs can also help people with certain health problems such as epilepsy and cancer, since certain dogs can be trained to detect these problems before they occur or just as they are starting.
Below we list a series of benefits that taking care of your dogs could bring:
- Less illnesses
- More resistance to allergies
- Greater happiness.
- A healthy heart.
- More exercise.
- More active social life.
- Reduction of stress.
Always remember to keep your pet healthy by giving it the necessary veterinary care. (See note on vaccination and deworming below)
Essential medical care to protect your pet
Did you know that by taking care of your pet you are taking care of your family?
Just like a child, your pets need medical care from their first weeks of life. Otherwise they can become infected with possible parasites and diseases that can consequently make your family sick. Therefore, protecting your family means giving your pet good health.
Now, do you know what zoonotic diseases are? They are those that are transmitted from an animal to a human being. It can be any animal, for example: dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, farm animals, wild animals, among others. However, in the case of pets, most zoonotic diseases are usually controllable, by having good hygiene habits and monitoring vaccinations and internal and external parasites.
Here we list some basic tips that you should take into account when taking care of your pet.
- If your pet is an adult, take it for an annual checkup with the veterinarian. Dogs and cats should be vaccinated once a year against the most common diseases (rabies, distemper, parainfluenza, parvovirus, among others). In some specific cases, vaccination against other diseases must be carried out, such as in Brazil, where vaccination against Leishmania is recommended.
- Your veterinarian will recommend how often you should deworm your pet for internal parasites. Deworming is commonly done through the administration of a pill every three months. The type of deworming will depend on where you live, since different parasites can occur in different places. For example, it is common to find cases of heartworm in tropical places near the beach.
- Ask your veterinarian which external parasite control regimen is best for your pet. It is common to use pipettes of oil on the dog's or cat's fur every month. It is also common to do medicated baths. With this you can control fleas, ticks, mites, etc. Careful! Don't use dog products on cats. They can be toxic.
- If you have a puppy or kitten, take it to the vet in its first days or when it is acquired for a check-up. Puppies and kittens need 3 or 4 rounds of vaccinations and deworming before they are 4 months old.
- Clean your cat's litter box at least once a day. There are particular organisms, such as Toxoplasma, that can be completely avoided if cleaning is done daily. If you are pregnant, use gloves to clean the litter box.
- Don't let your pet drink water from anywhere, especially contaminated ones. (pipes)
- Wash your hands constantly: Especially after contact with your pet and before eating. Teach your children to have good toilet habits.
- If your pet relieves itself in the yard, wear shoes to go out into the garden.
Don't forget that a healthy pet is a happy animal and therefore by taking care of it your family will be safe from the transmission of zoonotic diseases.
What does your pet need to have animal well-being?
Imagine being tied for long hours of the day to a pole or the roof of your house. How would you feel? Do you think you would be comfortable? Do you think you would eventually get frustrated?
A pet that knows no other life other than being chained suffers permanently. He may suffer from pulling and injuries on his skin from the collar and on his body from contact with the ground, exposure to rain, sun, cold and heat, parasites and diseases. They are forced to eat, sleep, urinate and defecate in the same place. They are also denied the opportunity to socialize with others of their species, something important for these animals that are social by nature.
Chains can easily become tangled in a tree, pole, doghouse or other objects, which can lead to further injuries and even death from hanging. In a short time, dogs become bored, feel lonely, become anxious, fearful, easily upset and even highly aggressive.
Some people believe that leashed dogs make good guards. However, instead of protecting the owner and the property, a leashed dog will very commonly become fearful when presented with a stimulus, precisely because he knows that by being leashed, he will not be able to escape.
Likewise, it could become an aggressive dog, a result of the frustration of not being able to explore its environment and not being able to determine whether or not the stimulus represents a real threat. There have even been cases of dogs biting or attacking their own owners.
Bites and attacks by tethered dogs are a reality that can be avoided if we respect animal welfare. Do you know what well-being is? Well, for there to be well-being in an animal, it must enjoy physical and mental health and the ability to behave naturally. An easy way to measure well-being is through the 5 basic freedoms.
Animals must live:
- Free from hunger and thirst
- Free from pain, injuries and illnesses
- Free from fear and stress
- Free from discomfort
- Free to express the normal behavior of their species
Based on these freedoms, for your dog to have well-being, he needs:
- Fresh water always available and good nutrition
- Preventive medical care and in case of illness or accident
- A neat space with protection from inclement weather and a comfortable place to sleep
- Exercise and play daily (for example, walks and ball play)
- Socialization with other dogs and human affection
- A separate space to urinate and defecate
If you find it absolutely necessary to leash your dog for some reason (for example, he runs away when someone opens the door), be sure to do so for short periods and using materials that are safe for your pet's skin.
