Do dogs provide health benefits? Believe it or not they do! Did you know that owning a dog and pet ownership in general, can help a person in many ways? Owning a pet can improve your mental wellness, reduce your visits to the doctor, improve your cardiovascular health and allow for faster recovery time from surgery as well as higher survival rates. Recent research suggests that dogs may be able to detect cancer on a person's breath! Lets' explore these amazing health benefits of pet ownership:

It has been proven that dog owners have lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels than non-dog owners. These factors, in turn, reduce the chance of cardiovascular diseases. In fact, just stroking a pet has long been known to reduce blood pressure. Furthermore, a study from the New York State University concluded that these benefits continue even without the pet being present!

Stop Your Dog's Behavior Problems!

Hospital studies have shown that senior citizens and recent post-op patients respond better to treatment and recover faster while in contact with dogs and other therapy animals. Did you know that dog owners have a greater chance to survive a serious illness than non-dog owners? In fact, a study revealed that a pet affected a person's survival rate even more than the presence or company of family members or friends!

Studies conducted at Cambridge and UCLA concluded that there is a direct correlation between pet ownership and improved overall health, which leads to fewer visits to the doctor. The Journal of American Geriatrics Society notes that pet ownership has a positive effect on a senior's physical and emotional well being. Additionally, a Medicare study of elderly patients also shows that people who own a dog have fewer doctor visits than patients who do not.

Pet owners have better emotional health and mental wellness than people who do not own a pet. Pets offer unconditional love and affection and their presence alone helps reduce loneliness. For people who are isolated, disabled or handicapped, a pet offers friendship and can even add a element of safety to their lives. Dogs are used as a form of therapy in hospices, nursing homes and as companions for the disabled and blind. In fact, there are studies that prove that people with a major illness fight the stress of having the illness better by having a dog as a pet.

There is new research that suggests that dogs may be able to detect certain types of cancer. Researchers at the Pine Street Foundation in San Anselmo, California and the Polish Academy of Sciences exposed dogs to breath samples from breast and lung cancer patients and samples from healthy people. They claim that the dogs were able to detect cancer with astonishing results and accuracy. The dogs were able to identify 99% of lung cancer breath samples (which included early stage cancer patients) as well as 88% of breast cancer samples. The study, which has been met with skepticism, will be released early in 2006 and published in the March edition of the Journal for Integrative Cancer Therapies. Experts agree that this holds promise, but must be evaluated and researched further.

As you can see pet ownership or having a dog comes with many benefits for an individual. Owning a pet encourages social interaction, reduces stress levels, boosts self-confidence and self-esteem and encourages exercise. Having a pet is a great investment, not only in the joy and pleasure that the animal brings into your life, but the many health benefits that come with the territory!

Pets. They clearly represent everything that we look for in a partner.

Affection, constant attention, and a pair of ears that listen and never quite talk back. These characteristics are just a few that allow us to bond with our furry friends. While they may never be our lifetime partner or husband material, they are our best friends. Without them, chances are we would be lost and unable to tell our secrets to the world.

When our pets become ill, the last thing we want to do is watch them suffer. We know that they are struggling to tell us what’s wrong, yet it is often difficult to figure out what the problem is. With exuberant medical fees and medicines that cost more than your car payments alone, dealing with their issue can also be frightening. Fortunately, there are plenty of opportunities to take care of your pet, without taking out a loan. Herbal remedies are wonderful resources for pets who struggle with joint pain, stomach aches, or allergies. Below are just a few remedies that may alleviate some of the ailments. Surprisingly, a simple herb such as rosemary can easily help with pain relief. Since it is an anti-inflammatory, it will help with joint pains and muscle tension. If you do give this to your pet, it will allow them to live more comfortably. As a result, you will not have to pay thousands of dollars for a medical pill that may not even work. Other anti-inflammatory herbs include Aloe Vera, which is also a popular remedy when humans find themselves dealing with pain. An additional herb that is used quite frequently on pets is Dandelion. This flower actually helps with the immune system, as it treats liver or kidney deficiencies. If you use the leaves, it actually can work as a diuretic. While these are just a few herbal remedies that will help your best friend, Noni supplements tend to work the best. These nutritional products, which began in the Pacific Islands, are making large splashes in the medical industry. After it was heard that Noni Juice could help with the spreading of cancer, people flocked towards this substance. Once it was found that it can alleviate joint pain, boost immune systems, and create energy, pet owners were trying this on their furry friends. Luckily, it works just as well. You no longer have to worry that your vet will not be able to fix the problem. Noni products may actually reduce the pain, and make your pet a lot happier.

Regardless of where we live in the world, pets are our lives. For some, they are a means of comfort. It is reassuring to know that they are always there when we need them the most. For others, they simply are a best friend that could never be replaced. After all, their ears are always on “turn on” mode, and they are more than happy to keep your darkest secrets. For these reasons, we absolutely want to do what’s best for our pets. If this means trying out alternative medicines such as Noni and herbs, then so be it. No matter what effects it has, at least we know that we gave it our all