Pet owners know just how much their four-legged friend improves their quality of life. But it’s not just about the unconditional love their furry friend gives. On an emotional level, having a pet in your home helps in decreasing anxiety, depression and stress; health-wise, it aids in improving the immune system, lowering the blood pressure level, and reducing your risk of experiencing heart attack and stroke. The benefits don’t just stop there though. Along with these amazing benefits, we’ve listed down the other positives that come with owning a pet.

1. Eases Pain

Whether you believe it or not, owning a pet can be a good medicine for people who are suffering from chronic pains like arthritis and migraine. Similar to how Valium works, having a pet around aids in reducing anxiety – and the less anxious you feel, the less pain you experience. One study even found that patients who have undergone pet therapy while recovering from a surgery needed less pain medications than those who did not sign up for the said therapy.

2. Decreases Cholesterol Level

One touted heart-healthy benefit of having a pet is it lower cholesterol levels. Individuals who own pets have significantly lower triglyceride and cholesterol levels than those who don’t have pets. It isn’t clear, however, as to whether a pet’s presence helps in decreasing cholesterol or if individuals who maintain a healthier lifestyle are usually pet owners.

3. Improves Social Skills

Although it may seem counterintuitive, owning a pet actually increases a person’s opportunity to socialize. A study found that pet owners are more socially engaged than non-pet owners. It even showed that it created more socialization opportunities within neighbourhoods, developing a perception to observers that the neighbourhood is friendly.

4. Prevents Allergies

Another amazing health benefit of having a pet around is it significantly improves one’s immunity and prevents allergies from occurring. Health experts even say that owning pets earlier in life keeps allergies from developing later on. This why kids who grow up around animals are less likely to develop certain types of allergies as they age.

5. Helps Kids Develop

Children who grow up in a household that owns pets benefit in several ways – specifically in their emotional development. Health experts also say that children learn to express themselves more and relate better with others when they are attached to a cat or a dog. Owning pets can also be beneficial for children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and autism, as it encourages them to focus on the responsibilities that goes along with owning a pet.

Aside from providing happiness, owning a pet also offers the aforementioned health benefits. So if you’re still planning to be a pet owner, now would be the perfect time to bring in and enjoy the benefits of having a furry friend in your home.