“Take 2 pets and call me in the morning”

“I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me they are the role model for being alive.”    -   Gilda Radner

With all the stress of the economy, a war overseas, a lousy housing and job market, bills to pay, and oil disasters, it’s nice to know that a pet can help take your mind off of all that.  In fact, research now seems to confirm what most of us pet owners have known for years – that pets make us feel good!

Recent studies have demonstrated the healthful benefits of having pets.  One study showed that people watching movies with dogs in them had significantly lower levels of cortisol, the “stress” hormone, right after watching the show.  One study by an animal behaviorist measured that oxytocin, a “feel-good” neurotransmitter in the brain, increased merely by petting a dog.  Another amazing study involved Alzheimer’s patients. They often lose interest in eating, yet In 2002, the placement of live fish in fishbowls on the dining room tables of nursing facilities seemed to correlate with an increase in appetite.

Furthermore, dogs not only make us feel good, but they also encourage us to move around and exercise (good for the heart of course), while a 2008 study concluded that cat owners are 40% less likely to suffer from a heart attack than those without one.  And at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, oncologists have begun “prescribing” pets to people to aid in their treatment.

So in these rough times, I hope you take solace from the fact that your four-legged friend is not only a companion, but in many ways a bit of a lifesaver.

Till next time,                      Dr. Steve                                          ashburnanimals.com

p.s. Don’t have an animal but wish you did?  Try volunteering at the local humane society or shelter, visit the zoo, or go bird-watching!

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