Why dogs and cats extend the life of their owners

With them, older people are fitter, have lower blood pressure, and suffer neither anxiety nor loneliness.

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Dogs and cats prolong life for the elderly and give energy and vitality 2

Dogs or cats? The ranking of favorite pets has now taken a leap: cats have overtaken dogs. A British survey of 8 families confirms this paradigm shift. It is no longer the dog "man's best friend", but the catSo much so that in the United Kingdom they have become 8 million, with an increase of 500 thousand units in the last year alone. And in Italy the overtaking has already taken place: 7,5 million cats compared to 6.9 million dogs..

I have to say that I'm not interested in this rankingAt home, since I was little, I was lucky enough to have both cats and dogs. The cat, when I was a child, was a Siamese, and he slept with me. The dog even accompanied me when I went to play soccer with friends. I've never had preferences, and I think the subconscious reason is simple: Both dogs and cats deserve the role of "friends of man", also because they can substantially improve our lives, to the point of extending them..

The importance of pets in our lives

Thus we welcomed, on our website Non sprecare, with great satisfaction the decision of the Justice of the Peace of Lodi which prevents a municipal administration from prohibiting the entry of dogs in public parks. And we did it because We are convinced that pets, even for what they give us, have real rights that must be respectedObviously, the safety and hygiene of everyone, especially children, who visit a public park must also be respected. But there's one point that, in my opinion, we don't think much about: we are really aware that dogs and cats, to name man's main companions, do they prolong life? Not jokingly, but according to science. We've learned that dogs and cats can significantly improve the quality of life of many people, especially the elderly and those at risk. solitude?

They keep company, and often break the wall of solitude, where we risk crashing. They impose rhythms, commitments, attention, and fill our days. This is why pets are so beloved by the elderly. I know an elderly woman who was widowed a few months ago: after her husband's death, she thought her life no longer had any meaning. So her son gave her a puppy, a mutt, to keep her company and keep her busy: from that day on, she found another reason to continue living.

Dogs and cats extend life and improve the quality of life Old age. And it's not just ancient folk wisdom that teaches us how important the company of pets is, especially for the elderly: this time, science is also showing us all the benefits pets bring.

The scientific journal Preventive Medicine He has in fact published the results of a study conducted on a group of people over the age of 79, all dog and cat owners. Well: These people are 12 percent more toned than their peers, and are physically fit like men and women who are at least 10 years younger.And they show better data on blood pressure and the frequency of anxiety episodes, while feeling less, much less, the syndrome of loneliness.

Researchers at the Scottish University of Saint Andrews thus confirm what we already imagined: pets do not only produce benefits for children (who learn to care for and recognize the needs of others) but also to the elderly, giving them energy and vitality.

So, let's not waste such precious company and first of all when we have them at home, the dogs and cats, like any other pet, let's treat them as if they were people. After all, they are part of our family. family and help us live better.

Dogs and cats: the benefits for seniors

Having established that dogs and cats are precious, and should not be wasted, for seniors (they bring vitality and well-being, improve relationships, sociability, and a zest for life), the next step is to decide which type of pet to choose. For dogs, a small breed is preferable: easier to manage, especially for daytime walks, and more suited to the company of an elderly person. A small dog also helps avoid the risk of accidents at home, such as falls, or outside, when dogs pull excessively on the leash. As for cats, however, it's best to choose short-haired ones: they're more independent and require less frequent brushing.

The benefits that dogs and cats bring to children

For children, dogs and cats, besides providing excellent company, are also educational. For example, they increase their sense of responsibility: children should be involved in training and caring for the dog, and this will greatly benefit their development. Then there's the empathy effect, which improves children's relationship skills and their emotional intelligence. Finally, considering the slavery to which children are often subjected by the proliferation of technology, playing with a dog, or a cat, is the best possible alternative to the usual PlayStation or smartphone.

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