Placebos
and drug company advertising has NO EFFECT on animals. If it helps an animal and there are visible results,
relaxation, cessation of lameness, improved energy, appetite, muscle
tone, coat condition, attitude, etc. then whatever it is WORKS.
Every person who does not have a pet but who
values their own health and longevity should know there is a mountain of
evidence and clinical trials that show an immediate drop in stress levels, blood pressure,
heart rate and other critical body functions when stroking a pet.
Long term studies have shown those who keep and care for pets experience
longer life span and better overall physical and mental health than those who do
not! It seems directly related however to pets that can be held and stroked.
Fish are great but the tactile benefits of stroking a warm-blooded pet are scientifically
measurable.
In addition to cancer detection, therapy dogs
can lower stress levels, blood pressure, heart rate, and heal both mind and body.
Joan Borysenko, PhD made news in her best seller,
Minding The Body,
Mending The Mind. She suggests not letting your mind become
burdened with worry. A distraction such as gardening, reading, or walking your dog stimulates and heals
the mind and the body.
Stress relief? The former Director of two Harvard Medical School
Hospitals advises we forgive any wrongs that have been done to us and quit
brooding!
Let that soak in. Step on your dog's foot and he may yelp and look at
you with wonderment because you hurt him but you are instantly forgiven.
He may be more cautious about your feet but he bears no grudge. Learn from that as you think how much you love him too.
Dr. Borysenko says before going to bed, take a moment and be grateful
for something that happened that day. Dog owners can easily do that,
recalling how the sun glistened on their dog’s freshly bathed coat, the
long-awaited litter that was born healthy, the championship points or qualifying
score won that week.
She also suggests we imagine seeing a disease leave your body or a
virus, or cancer cells being attacked and overwhelmed by an army on
white chargers. It isn't like that was her original concept.
Visualization has been proven by forward-thinking cancer researchers. It may sound silly but then if anyone had told us a
decade ago that dogs could detect cancer long before medical tests, we
wouldn’t have thought it possible.
Certainly
this doctor would agree that dogs comfort and calm our thoughts; they
make us smile and they are never worried. A dog’s enjoyment of the
moment and his zest for the simplicity of life should be an inspiration to
us.
Medical science has proven that stroking a pet lowers heart rate and
blood pressure. We know that but did you know that the tactile contact of petting a dog or cat can
de-stress a human as well as a tranquilizer and with no harmful side effects?
The joy and
soothing effect therapy dogs have on seriously ill patients has been well
documented but now scientists can hook us up to monitors and prove the
effect. So if you are stressed, soak up a big dose of dog therapy!
Any dog can become your mental, emotional, and physical therapy dog. Begin
by walking the dog every day. Enjoy the exercise and the stimulation of
seeing your surroundings from something other than a car window. Savor
the relaxing time away from computers, phone, kids, and business. Your
dog will invite friendly hellos so stop and chat with a neighbor you
normally only converse with by phone. Get tuned in to your dog and he or
she will become even more tuned in to you. Your dog may notice that mole
on the back of your leg or that your body or urine scent has changed.
Pay attention to the dog!
Most of all, learn the art of forgiveness from your dog, and as the good
doc says, be grateful that you have such a loyal, adoring companion and
spend a little time just petting and talking to him. It’s good for the
heart, the mind, and the soul!
Certainly
this doctor would agree that dogs comfort and calm our thoughts; they
make us smile and they are never worried. A dog’s enjoyment of the
moment and his zest for the simplicity of life should be an inspiration to
us. 
