Positive Isolation - A Pets Dream

For many Australians, the thought of isolation is rather daunting. For our pets, however, having their favourite two-legged companions’ home is nothing but pure bliss. Pet Insurance Australia shares some top tips on how to keep your pets happy during this time, while also looking into the great advantages of working from home beside your companion animal.

“It’s no surprise to pet owners that their cats and dogs will be relishing in their constant presence,” Nadia Crighton from Pet Insurance Australia says. “However, with many people now cautious in exploring the great-outdoors alongside their pets, it’s also time to plan some simple steps to ensure you keep your pet healthy.”

It’s all about getting creative and thinking about mind-flexing training.

“A great way to exercise your pet, if you cannot access ample space, is training,” Crighton says. “Flexing the brain can be a wonderful way to help your pet cope with being indoors and confine to their backyard more often.”

Even in puppies, a 15minutue training regime can be just as exhausting as a high-intensive run around the park.

TOP TIPS

• Train your pet daily
• Consider fun training and teaching your pet a new trick every two weeks
• Keep a routine and stick to it
• Get creative with being active

“It’s also important to note that many pets will be picking up on the stress and anxiety we may be feeling,” Crighton says. “Every pet owner knows that interacting with their furry best friend can reduce stress and anxiety dramatically.”

The advice from Pet Insurance Australia is; switch-off and interact with your best friend!

“Scientists now agree that there are actual physical benefits for pet ownership,” Crighton says. “Over the year’s numerous studies have shown that they can reduce stress and help with a range of issues.”

“Our pets can seriously help us through this uncertain time,” Crighton says. “Many pet-friendly workplaces have shown how much it can help to have a pet in the workplace. As many pet owners now discover this, it’s important we give back and ensure our pets are also kept occupied during this time.”

Many workplaces, that encourage a pet-friendly environment see massive benefits for their employees including;

• More focus
• Provide positivity in the workplace
• Less stress
• Better teamwork
• Increased productivity
• Calming effects
• Increase in communication
• Lower workplace stress
• Benefit work/life balance
• Allows mental breaks
• Reduce depression and sad feelings

SOME AMAZING STUDIES

• State University of New York study reveals that people experienced less stress during specific tasks when their pet was present. More so than if they were in the company of a close friend or spouse. The pet owners had lower heart rates, blood pressure and also a lower reactivity to the stress tests. The pet owners also returned to stable levels more quickly than their counterparts who did not have pets.
• UCLA Professor and Psychologist Judith Siegel published a report noting that AIDS patients were much less likely to suffer from depression if they owned a pet.
• Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, after a 10month study, concluded that owning a pet made a significant reduction in minor health complaints during the first month of ownership. For dog owners, this effect was sustained for 10months. The ‘pet’ group also scored higher in general health questionnaires. The results provided evidence that owning a pet has positive effects on human health and behaviour and in some cases, these effects are relatively long term.
• A Swedish study, published in Scientific Reports 2017, looking at 3.4 million people concluded that dog ownership was associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality in the general population.
• The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology reports that cat exposure in early life decreases the risk of asthma in children. Showing that cat and dog exposure (especially cat) from birth was associated with a lower prevalence of asthma in young children.

There is no doubt how much our friendly felines and curious canines can help us cope and bring us joy during this current pandemic.

“Just remember not to spoil them too much with those treats, rather use praise, games, and cuddles as a reward,” Crighton warns. “Or you may end up with a pet weight problem that can lead to serious issues later in life.”

Photo by BRUNO CERVERA on Unsplash

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