April is stress awareness month, and leading vet charity PDSA is highlighting the positive impact that pets may have on our mental health.
PDSA Vet Nurse Nina Downing said: “Stress can affect us all – busy lives, juggling family and work commitments, and financial pressures can all cause challenges. In fact, the Office for National Statistics found that over a fifth of adults (22.5%) in the UK rated their anxiety as high the previous day, between July and September 2024 – a long-term increase.
“But as a vet nurse and pet owner myself, I know that our pets can help to reduce some of the impacts of stress, and that they really do help us through hard times.”
According to the charity’s PAW Report*, nine out of ten dog and cat owners say that owning their pet improves their life (92% of dog owners and 91% of cat owners). So why is this?
Nina says that studies have shown that having pets is associated with benefits for both physical and mental health.
“Several studies have suggested that pet owners have a reduced risk of heart disease and blood pressure problems,” she said.
“And for anyone who already suffers from these health problems, evidence shows that sharing your life with pets may improve symptoms, give you a better chance of getting better, and in some cases even live longer!”
The impact on physical health was unsurprisingly highest in dog owners, with 86% saying their pet is good for their physical health, most likely due to daily walks.
But even for cat and rabbit owners, around half say owning their pet is good for their physical health, with 51% and 53% respectively reporting this.
It’s not just the physical aspects of health that pets can help us with, research has also shown that for some people, owning a pet is associated with reduced stress.
For instance, 88% of dog and cat owners, and 82% of rabbit owners say that owning a pet makes them mentally healthier.
As stress can contribute to serious health conditions, it’s good to know that our pets may help to reduce the health impact that prolonged stress can have on our bodies.
For many owners, pets provide invaluable companionship and unconditional love, providing daily interaction, a sense of purpose and daily routines, all of which can help to support and manage issues such as anxiety, depression and loneliness.
However, Nina does add a note of caution: “It’s important to remember that pets are not a magic solution to fix all problems”, she warns. “Pets are thinking, feeling creatures and are a serious commitment. Before welcoming a pet in your life, it’s vital to ensure you have the time, finances and energy to take care of them and provide for all their needs.”
To take PDSA’s short quiz on choosing the right pet for your lifestyle, visit www.pdsa.org.uk/choosingapet
Nina added: “If you’ve fully considered all the responsibilities involved, then a pet can be a wonderful and mutually beneficial addition to your family.”
