{"id":1352,"date":"2025-04-30T17:43:50","date_gmt":"2025-04-30T17:43:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.botanicchoice.com\/blog\/?p=1352"},"modified":"2025-04-30T17:43:56","modified_gmt":"2025-04-30T17:43:56","slug":"pets-and-mental-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.botanicchoice.com\/blog\/health-and-wellness\/pets-and-mental-health\/","title":{"rendered":"Pets and Mental Health"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<ul class=\"wp-block-social-links is-style-logos-only is-layout-flex wp-block-social-links-is-layout-flex\"><li class=\"wp-social-link wp-social-link-facebook  wp-block-social-link\"><a rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BotanicChoice\" class=\"wp-block-social-link-anchor\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M12 2C6.5 2 2 6.5 2 12c0 5 3.7 9.1 8.4 9.9v-7H7.9V12h2.5V9.8c0-2.5 1.5-3.9 3.8-3.9 1.1 0 2.2.2 2.2.2v2.5h-1.3c-1.2 0-1.6.8-1.6 1.6V12h2.8l-.4 2.9h-2.3v7C18.3 21.1 22 17 22 12c0-5.5-4.5-10-10-10z\"><\/path><\/svg><span class=\"wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\n<li class=\"wp-social-link wp-social-link-instagram  wp-block-social-link\"><a rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/botanicchoice\/\" class=\"wp-block-social-link-anchor\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M12,4.622c2.403,0,2.688,0.009,3.637,0.052c0.877,0.04,1.354,0.187,1.671,0.31c0.42,0.163,0.72,0.358,1.035,0.673 c0.315,0.315,0.51,0.615,0.673,1.035c0.123,0.317,0.27,0.794,0.31,1.671c0.043,0.949,0.052,1.234,0.052,3.637 s-0.009,2.688-0.052,3.637c-0.04,0.877-0.187,1.354-0.31,1.671c-0.163,0.42-0.358,0.72-0.673,1.035 c-0.315,0.315-0.615,0.51-1.035,0.673c-0.317,0.123-0.794,0.27-1.671,0.31c-0.949,0.043-1.233,0.052-3.637,0.052 s-2.688-0.009-3.637-0.052c-0.877-0.04-1.354-0.187-1.671-0.31c-0.42-0.163-0.72-0.358-1.035-0.673 c-0.315-0.315-0.51-0.615-0.673-1.035c-0.123-0.317-0.27-0.794-0.31-1.671C4.631,14.688,4.622,14.403,4.622,12 s0.009-2.688,0.052-3.637c0.04-0.877,0.187-1.354,0.31-1.671c0.163-0.42,0.358-0.72,0.673-1.035 c0.315-0.315,0.615-0.51,1.035-0.673c0.317-0.123,0.794-0.27,1.671-0.31C9.312,4.631,9.597,4.622,12,4.622 M12,3 C9.556,3,9.249,3.01,8.289,3.054C7.331,3.098,6.677,3.25,6.105,3.472C5.513,3.702,5.011,4.01,4.511,4.511 c-0.5,0.5-0.808,1.002-1.038,1.594C3.25,6.677,3.098,7.331,3.054,8.289C3.01,9.249,3,9.556,3,12c0,2.444,0.01,2.751,0.054,3.711 c0.044,0.958,0.196,1.612,0.418,2.185c0.23,0.592,0.538,1.094,1.038,1.594c0.5,0.5,1.002,0.808,1.594,1.038 c0.572,0.222,1.227,0.375,2.185,0.418C9.249,20.99,9.556,21,12,21s2.751-0.01,3.711-0.054c0.958-0.044,1.612-0.196,2.185-0.418 c0.592-0.23,1.094-0.538,1.594-1.038c0.5-0.5,0.808-1.002,1.038-1.594c0.222-0.572,0.375-1.227,0.418-2.185 C20.99,14.751,21,14.444,21,12s-0.01-2.751-0.054-3.711c-0.044-0.958-0.196-1.612-0.418-2.185c-0.23-0.592-0.538-1.094-1.038-1.594 c-0.5-0.5-1.002-0.808-1.594-1.038c-0.572-0.222-1.227-0.375-2.185-0.418C14.751,3.01,14.444,3,12,3L12,3z M12,7.378 c-2.552,0-4.622,2.069-4.622,4.622S9.448,16.622,12,16.622s4.622-2.069,4.622-4.622S14.552,7.378,12,7.378z M12,15 c-1.657,0-3-1.343-3-3s1.343-3,3-3s3,1.343,3,3S13.657,15,12,15z M16.804,6.116c-0.596,0-1.08,0.484-1.08,1.08 s0.484,1.08,1.08,1.08c0.596,0,1.08-0.484,1.08-1.08S17.401,6.116,16.804,6.116z\"><\/path><\/svg><span class=\"wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text\">Instagram<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\n<li class=\"wp-social-link wp-social-link-pinterest  wp-block-social-link\"><a rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/botanicchoice\/\" class=\"wp-block-social-link-anchor\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M12.289,2C6.617,2,3.606,5.648,3.606,9.622c0,1.846,1.025,4.146,2.666,4.878c0.25,0.111,0.381,0.063,0.439-0.169 c0.044-0.175,0.267-1.029,0.365-1.428c0.032-0.128,0.017-0.237-0.091-0.362C6.445,11.911,6.01,10.75,6.01,9.668 c0-2.777,2.194-5.464,5.933-5.464c3.23,0,5.49,2.108,5.49,5.122c0,3.407-1.794,5.768-4.13,5.768c-1.291,0-2.257-1.021-1.948-2.277 c0.372-1.495,1.089-3.112,1.089-4.191c0-0.967-0.542-1.775-1.663-1.775c-1.319,0-2.379,1.309-2.379,3.059 c0,1.115,0.394,1.869,0.394,1.869s-1.302,5.279-1.54,6.261c-0.405,1.666,0.053,4.368,0.094,4.604 c0.021,0.126,0.167,0.169,0.25,0.063c0.129-0.165,1.699-2.419,2.142-4.051c0.158-0.59,0.817-2.995,0.817-2.995 c0.43,0.784,1.681,1.446,3.013,1.446c3.963,0,6.822-3.494,6.822-7.833C20.394,5.112,16.849,2,12.289,2\"><\/path><\/svg><span class=\"wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text\">Pinterest<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\n<li class=\"wp-social-link wp-social-link-tiktok  wp-block-social-link\"><a rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@botanicchoice\" class=\"wp-block-social-link-anchor\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M16.708 0.027c1.745-0.027 3.48-0.011 5.213-0.027 0.105 2.041 0.839 4.12 2.333 5.563 1.491 1.479 3.6 2.156 5.652 2.385v5.369c-1.923-0.063-3.855-0.463-5.6-1.291-0.76-0.344-1.468-0.787-2.161-1.24-0.009 3.896 0.016 7.787-0.025 11.667-0.104 1.864-0.719 3.719-1.803 5.255-1.744 2.557-4.771 4.224-7.88 4.276-1.907 0.109-3.812-0.411-5.437-1.369-2.693-1.588-4.588-4.495-4.864-7.615-0.032-0.667-0.043-1.333-0.016-1.984 0.24-2.537 1.495-4.964 3.443-6.615 2.208-1.923 5.301-2.839 8.197-2.297 0.027 1.975-0.052 3.948-0.052 5.923-1.323-0.428-2.869-0.308-4.025 0.495-0.844 0.547-1.485 1.385-1.819 2.333-0.276 0.676-0.197 1.427-0.181 2.145 0.317 2.188 2.421 4.027 4.667 3.828 1.489-0.016 2.916-0.88 3.692-2.145 0.251-0.443 0.532-0.896 0.547-1.417 0.131-2.385 0.079-4.76 0.095-7.145 0.011-5.375-0.016-10.735 0.025-16.093z\" \/><\/svg><span class=\"wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text\">TikTok<\/span><\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re one of the 80 million pet owners in America, you already know your pet gives you a lot of enjoyment\u2026and science now confirms it! It\u2019s called the pet effect. Whether you own a dog, cat, iguana or goldfish, lizard, parrot, or snake, studies show pets help you live a healthier, happier life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Header0\">In this Healthy Insight:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Pets give you unconditional love and affection<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pets reduce stress and anxiety<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pets increase happiness<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pets ease loneliness<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pets give life meaning and decrease depression<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pets help you practice mindful living<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pets boost physical health and wellbeing<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-style-default\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\"    src=\"https:\/\/www.botanicchoice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/dog-and-owner-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"A woman and her dog\" class=\"wp-image-8698\" style=\"width:512px;height:342px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.botanicchoice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/dog-and-owner-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.botanicchoice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/dog-and-owner-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.botanicchoice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/dog-and-owner-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.botanicchoice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/dog-and-owner.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Header1\">Pets give you unconditional love and affection<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Pets fulfill our human need for love and affection. Many pet owners talk to their pets as if they were human, allowing them to work out their problems in a non-judgmental, supportive way. Pets accept you for how you are or whatever mood you\u2019re in. They simply want to be near you, and that kind of unconditional love feels good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Header2\">Pets reduce stress and anxiety<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Petting, or even sitting next to a dog, cat or other animal\nreduces stress-related hormones like cortisol in as little as five minutes\u2019\ntime. &nbsp;They help you relax, calm jangled\nnerves and quiet a busy mind. Psychological studies show an increase in\noxytocin levels in the brain, reducing fear and anxiety and even decreasing\nviolence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Header3\">Pets increase happiness<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Interacting with pets elevates levels of serotonin and\ndopamine, the get-happy hormones. If you\u2019re a pet owner you know this\nfirst-hand. There\u2019s nothing like a wagging tail or friendly purr to put a smile\non your face at the end of the day. Playing with them makes you feel carefree\nand happy, and that\u2019s good for your health, too. <\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-style-default\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\"    src=\"https:\/\/www.botanicchoice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Cat-and-dog-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Pets include cats dogs and more\" class=\"wp-image-8699\" style=\"width:512px;height:342px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.botanicchoice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Cat-and-dog-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.botanicchoice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Cat-and-dog-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.botanicchoice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Cat-and-dog-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.botanicchoice.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Cat-and-dog.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Header4\">Pets ease loneliness<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Pets are great companions. They share your daily routine and\noffer a sense of security and constancy. They make you feel wanted and help\ntake the focus away from your problems.&nbsp; Dogs\nespecially force you to get out of the house where you likely will encounter\nother dog owners and strike up a conversation. People who have more social\nrelationships tend to be mentally healthier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Header5\">Pets give life meaning and decrease depression<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Everyone likes feeling needed and wanted and a pet is\nperfect for this. Caring for a living creature adds purpose to your day. This\nis true even if the pet doesn\u2019t interact with you. In a 2016 study, elderly\npeople were given five crickets to care for during an eight-week time period.\nResearchers studied their mood and found those participants with the crickets\nwere less depressed than those without crickets. It seems that doing good enhances\nquality and meaning in life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Header6\">Pets help you practice mindful living<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Since pets live in the moment, they don\u2019t worry about what\nhappened yesterday or what tomorrow may bring. Mindful living is a valuable\nlesson pets teach us.&nbsp; Pets also add structure\nto your day and this routine keeps you in the moment too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Header7\">Pets boost physical health and wellbeing <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-1 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>The impact of pets on the physical health of owners was first studied 30 years ago and what they discovered has been confirmed in numerous studies since then. When you pet a friendly animal\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a aria-label=\"Blood pressure (opens in a new tab)\" class=\"rank-math-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.botanicchoice.com\/heart-health\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Blood pressure<\/a> goes down<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Heart rate slows<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Breathing becomes more regular<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Muscle tension relaxes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The immune system gets a boost<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether it\u2019s a bird, dog, cat, or guinea pig, really any type of pet can provide you with a multitude of health benefits and enrich your life immensely. That\u2019s reason enough to want the best for them too. Make sure they get the care they need so they always feel their best!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.botanicchoice.com\/mood\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Shop Mood Supplements<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you\u2019re one of the 80 million pet owners in America, you already know your pet gives you a lot of enjoyment\u2026and science now confirms it! It\u2019s called the pet effect. Whether you own a dog, cat, iguana or goldfish, lizard, parrot, or snake, studies show pets help you live a healthier, happier life.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":1355,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1352","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health-and-wellness"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.botanicchoice.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1352"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.botanicchoice.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.botanicchoice.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.botanicchoice.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.botanicchoice.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1352"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/www.botanicchoice.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1352\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10347,"href":"https:\/\/www.botanicchoice.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1352\/revisions\/10347"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.botanicchoice.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1355"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.botanicchoice.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1352"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.botanicchoice.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1352"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.botanicchoice.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1352"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}