Animals Can Help With Depression

Jasmine Han, PharmD Candidate

Do you ever find yourself rushing back home after a long day to see your beloved four-legged friend? Or ever find yourself squealing over the pets of friends or strangers? Whether you’re a dog-person or a cat-person, you’ve probably had moments where you felt instantly better and forgot all about a bad day after interacting with an animal. As it turns out; pets may have a more positive impact on you than you ever imagined.

The reality of mental health

In this day and age where everyone is always on the go, and there’s always demands to be met, it can be quite easy to get overwhelmed and exhausted. According to the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey, one in six adults suffers from a mental disorder, ¹ which can be strongly related to stress. Unfortunately, it’s been suggested that this is even more common in older populations.¹ As we’ve discussed in previous articles, physical activity is one way to improve mental health. However, it’s not always possible for everyone to stay active. But don’t worry, there may be another solution.

Pet therapy

It’s now more common than ever to see pets visit hospital units, long-term care centres, youth programs, and universities.¹ In fact, the demand for pet visits is ever-increasing.¹ This may be due to growing evidence suggesting that pet therapy, also known as animal-assisted therapy, has a positive impact on various aspects of an individual – physical, mental, education, motivational, and behavioural.²

Current research shows that pet therapy is associated with reduced pain, stress, anxiety, fatigue and improved mood.^1,2 Several studies have also shown changes in the chemicals of the body associated with social bonding, pleasure, pain reduction, and stress relief following positive interactions with animals.

Does owning a pet work too?

As far as the evidence goes, owning a pet offers similar benefits as receiving pet therapy, especially in the elderly, as it can give them a sense of purpose and a source of companionship.¹  Additionally, those who own dogs generally enjoy several physical benefits as well, as these animals typically require more regular walking and outdoor activities.¹

That being said, of course, owning a pet comes with the additional responsibilities including home hygiene, feeding, grooming, and financial burden. When purchasing or adopting an animal, it’s also important to be fully aware of its history and health status to avoid any risks of infection or diseases.

So what should I do?

Spending time with animals has shown benefits in people of various age groups,^3,4 but needless to say, not everyone may have access to pet therapy, nor have the ability to own an animal. Financial difficulties, living situation, and time constraints are all very valid reasons for not having an animal. But there are still options. Volunteering at your local animal shelter can not only be a fulfilling experience, but it can improve the life and well-being of an animal as well.

A note on safety

Before we end off, it’s important to be aware of the risks of infection, bites, and scratches when dealing with animals, as well as your allergy status.¹ If you are ever bitten or scratched by an animal or experience allergy signs such as watery, red eyes, runny/congested nose, sneezing, itchy skin, and difficulty breathing,⁵ you should consult a clinician immediately.

As always, we hope that you were able to take away something from this article. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to us on Instagram, Facebook, or at ask@orbishealth.ca.

RESOURCES

1. While A. Pet dogs as promoters of wellbeing. British Journal Of Community Nursing [serial on the Internet]. (2017, July), [cited March 14, 2018]; 22(7): 332-336. Available from: CINAHL Plus with Full Text.
2. MANI I, WEESE J. Pet Therapy: Enhancing Patient Care Through Time with Animals. American Family Physician [serial on the Internet]. (2016, Nov), [cited March 14, 2018]; 94(9): 737-740. Available from: CINAHL Plus with Full Text.
3. Hoagwood K, Acri M, Morrissey M, Peth-Pierce R. Animal-assisted therapies for youth with or at risk for mental health problems: A systematic review. Applied Developmental Science [serial on the Internet]. (2017, Jan), [cited March 14, 2018]; 21(1): 1-13. Available from: Business Source Complete.
4. Schmitz A, Beermann M, MacKenzie C, Fetz K, Schulz-Quach C. Animal-assisted therapy at a University Centre for Palliative Medicine — a qualitative content analysis of patient records. BMC Palliative Care [serial on the Internet]. (2017, Oct 2), [cited March 14, 2018]; 161-13. Available from: Academic Search Complete.
5. DynaMed