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<\/a><\/div>\nSome studies suggest that children who are exposed to furry pets as infants are less likely to develop allergies.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are lots of studies showing that pets are good for our health,\u201d says Rebecca Johnson, PhD, RN, director of the Research Center for Human-Animal Interaction at the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine.<\/p>\n Researchers are busy studying the many ways our pets can benefit our health. Several large studies suggest that Fluffy and Fido \u2014 in addition to winning your heart \u2014 can improve the way your heart works. A National Institutes of Health study of 420 adults who had suffered heart attacks showed that pooch owners were significantly more likely to still be kicking \u2014 and their tickers still ticking \u2014 one year later than were poochless patients, regardless of how serious the heart attack. In another study of 240 married couples, those who owned pets had lower heart rates and blood pressure, both at rest as well as under stress.<\/p>\n Your best bud can also improve your circulation. A study involving cat owners found they have fewer strokes than their feline-free counterparts.<\/p>\n \u201cThe reduction in blood pressure through interaction with a companion animal has been shown in many studies,\u201d Johnson says. \u201cIt\u2019s practically the oldest finding we have.\u201d<\/p>\n The \u201crelaxation response\u201d has even been shown when people kick back and watch their fish swim, Johnson says.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n At the end of a long day, who doesn\u2019t enjoy coming home to a cold nose, a wagging tail and a slobbery kiss? But is it okay to kiss our pets?<\/p>\n It\u2019s not a good idea to let your pets lick you on the mouth, says Jennifer Wright, DVM, MPH, a veterinary epidemiologist at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If you want to kiss your dog or cat, the top of her or his head is the preferred place to plant kisses.<\/p>\n \u201cThe rewards you get from your pets are much greater than the risk of acquiring an illness from a well-cared for pet,\u201d Wright says.<\/p>\n Just like people, our pets can carry certain bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi, so get into the habit of washing your hands after interacting with your pets. This is especially important for children and for people with compromised immune systems.<\/p>\n If you have a child younger than five, don\u2019t bring turtles, amphibians such as frogs, or baby chicks into your home. Small kids can\u2019t resist picking up these cute critters, but there\u2019s a downside: They shed salmonella bacteria, which can cause serious illness, especially in small children, elderly people and folks with chronic conditions.<\/p>\n Pet-to-person infections can occur if you are bitten or scratched by an infected animal, or have contact with an infected pet\u2019s waste or saliva. Cats and dogs can carry bacterial infections in their intestinal tracts, and parasites can be present in their waste. If you have small children, make sure the cat\u2019s litter box is not accessible to them. Kids will put anything in their mouths, so you don\u2019t want them in your cat\u2019s toilet.<\/p>\n Keeping up with your pet\u2019s vaccinations will help keep your pet healthy and reduce the risk of someone in your family contracting an animal-borne infection.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are benefits to having pets, you just have to be aware that there are some risks and they are all perfectly preventable risks,\u201d Wright says.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n In terms of getting you off the couch and out the door, dogs have the edge.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re not going to walk a snake,\u201d Johnson says. \u201cDogs will facilitate physical exercise better than cats or other non-walking pets.\u201d<\/p>\n Studies show that dog owners who regularly walk their hounds lose pounds and are more physically active overall than those who don\u2019t own or walk a dog. In addition to getting you outdoors \u2014 rain or shine \u2014 your pooch provides \u201csocial lubrication,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n In other words, when you\u2019re out walking Max, people are more likely to strike up conversations with you. And some research shows that neighborhoods where people walk dogs regularly are viewed as friendlier and safer.<\/p>\n http:\/\/thenationshealth.aphapublications.org\/content\/40\/10\/32.full<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" We include them in our family portraits, make room for them on our beds, tell them our deepest secrets and miss work when they\u2019re sick. And whether they paw, fly or swim their way into our hearts, pets are an … Continue reading Photos courtesy iStockphoto. Fish by Lisa Gagne, bird by Robert Byron, rabbit and bulldog by Eric Issel\u00e9e<\/q><\/p>\n
Enjoying pawsitive energy<\/h2>\n
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