Pets and Pain
Pets can be very therapeutic. It's a proven fact that certain animals can have a calming effect on people. They can be affectionate toward the lonely and comforting toward the hurting. Animals can bring life to a home that might otherwise be too quiet and empty. Pets can sense when you don't feel well and they can tell when you are sad or upset. Pets can be very entertaining. They can help to distract you from your pain sometimes.I have two cats. They are like my "babies" (Smile) They can be mischievous sometimes and drive me up a wall with their bad habits, but I wouldn't trade them! The love they show me when I don't feel well means so much.
On my pain management and migraine message boards folks talk about their pets. We share a lot of laughs between us about the neat and funny things they do. Some have cats and others have puppies--I enjoy hearing about them all.
For those who are unable to have pets of their own, you might consider "adopting" a friend's pet! Visit the pet when you visit your friend. Get to know the pet so it recognizes you. Maybe you can pet-sit when your friend needs to be away. It can be very rewarding and it can help you feel better in many ways.
Do you have a special pet or two in your life? I would love to hear about them! Post a comment or join us on my Pain Management and/or Migraine message boards here on WebMD. I look forward to hearing how your little furry friends help you get through the rough times in life!
Related Topics: Video: See Spot, Feel Happy, The Pet Prescription: Is it for You?
Technorati Tags: pets, healing, pain reduction
9 Comments:
I have 5! Cats. Poodie, Rigby, Zmrzlina Raphaelle, Thumbellina (23 toes!) and Elora Danan, 4 of which are Maine Coon mixes. While they fill my life and house with cat hair (long, thin, fine cat hair that gets even where the cats have never been) they are my babies and I wouldn't trade them for anything. And they do know when I need comfort. I don't remember a time when I was sick and they nagged me too much. Rather, one or more of them would lay with me on the couch or bed. I can always count on at least one nap buddy, and when I've laid down with ice and a migraine, blocking all light and sound out I can, not one "feed-me" nag or fussy fight can I remember. Just that at least one of the five, maybe two or three, would curl up with me and sleep. Hmmm...I really need to update my pets webpage to show off my cuties.
I was diagnosed with Panic Disorder in 2003 (after my first dog--of 15 yrs--passed, & I lost my job). Soon after that,I adopted a Black Lab/Retriever mix (I named her Molly), & she could actually sense when I was about to have a panic attack. She wouldn't leave my side until it passed. I've been going to therapy for some time now,& was making progress,but it wasn't until I bought a puppy (a few months ago) that my progress really kicked into high gear.
So I totally agree that animals are extremely helpful...in many years.
Sincerely,
Terri
I love cats and dogs. Too bad I have allergies to their dander. The best I can do is just enjoy my friends' pets. Life is not fair, sometimes.
By the way, that is an adorable snapshot of a cat next to your column.
Hello everyone. I have 10 chiauha / dashunds that I raise and I have kept some off the first litters of my first three that were given to me. I bought a long hair chiauaha but was unsucessful with her having pups that I could sell and continue to breed.
I have found that my dogs do comfort me and give me something to do and make a little extra money. I am on disability for my back and sometimes I have trouble taking caring of all my animals but there are inside jobs that keep me from getting out and caring for my pets I keep out doors in a nice pen with furniture in there for them. I want to build them a house and put air conditioning and heat for them so they can be comfortable since the three that stay out doors were raised indoors.
If anyone tries to come between me and my animals I stress out alot because they keep me calm and make me feel loved. I think everyone should have a pet that is depressed, lonely or needs something to keep their mind occupied from everyday problems.
Right Now I have eleven dogs including two new puppies which I will be selling in a few weeks. I gave away three dogs a month ago to give them a home where they could get more attention which were my breeders. I lost four puppies two months ago which I was sad about so that made me want to give up on raising them anymore because it is heart breaking. I run an ad in the paper and found that many people want pets so I am learning more to keep puppies healthier and the mothers and fathers of the puppies from the beginning. Raising dogs can be expensive so I am learning to give the shots myself. I thought about it for awhile about a pet motel to keep animals for people who wanted to go on vacation because I found it difficult to go places myself with dogs. I would hire someone to work for me but I would come to over see the business and possibly have someone to train the dogs to have shows for the community which I think would be alot of fun and give back to the community.
I also help people in staying healthy as well with herbal products and sometimes I give my pets the natural products.
People and animals go hand and hand.
Want to know what the best sedative is? A cat purring. Anytime I'm having trouble sleeping, my cat jumps on my lap and starts purring. I'm asleep in just a few minutes!
GenieBelle
to anonymous who said he/she allergic to dogs and cats because of dander - i'm allergic to dogs also but the schnauzer and poodle dogs don't have that allergy effect i adopted a schnoodle (schnauzer/poodle) from petfinders.com i always had thoroughbred schnauzers for the allergy problem - first experience with a poodle - he's a delightful fellow, so smart, so obedient, so loving i've gone through a 3 year treatment resistant major depression; he stays right with me on the sad days, pounces on me to play on particularly bad days - he wins, i get on the floor and play; feel better - he knows the right medicine he was found abandoned on the streets of san pedro CA, starving, scared, dirty, very insecure - we've rescued each other - anonymous - try being around a schnauzer or poodle (can't be a mix with any other breed) see if you get any reaction to your allergy symptoms my vocal cords swell; i lose my voice with most dogs; had that reaction from the 4 other breed dogs in foster home where we picked up ours but it went away a couple of hours after we left the house
good luck to you - don't want you to miss the opportunity to have a loving pet if it can work out for you lulu
I have an austrailian Shepard mut, short hair, smart dog, great! My mother who is allergic to dog and my dog a little recently got a schnoodle. However, I am allergic to him! I wheeze, sneeze and everything, he's still a pup so maybe it's just that puppy smell, my mom is fine....I never wheeze unless i'm around cats and there aren't any cats around her home...what gives?
I'm epileptic and my dog sences when i'm about to have a seizure and when it is over i am in alot of pain and unconcious She wakes my wife and both her and my cat lay by me til morning or i wake up. The VA doctors say that it is not possible. Please if there is someone out there who can tell me what to do or has a contact please let me no i can't loose my baby's
john
HELLO, THIS IS SANJIB. IT WAS THE YEAR 1997. THE YEAR I EVER REMEMBER.......I WAS SUFFERING SEVERE PAIN AS MY GIRLFRIEND LEFT ME FFOREVER.I WAS HARDLY ABLE TO BEAR THE SHOCK OF HER ABSENCE.EVEN TODAY I CAN REMEMBER THAT TRAUMA IN MY LIFES WAY...I WAS JUST ON THE VERGE OF COMMITING SUICIDE TO RUN AWAY FROM THIS CRUEL EARTH...WHEN I WAS THINKING IN SUCH A WAY I GOT A BABY CAT LEFT BY SOME CRUEL FELLOW CRYING AT ROADSIDE.I PICKED HER UP , GAVE HER THE SHELTER OF MY LAP..SHE STOPPED CRYING...TODAY I THINK THAT GOD SEND HER TO ME TO LET ME KNOW WHAT THE LIFE IS...FRIENDS U WILL BE SURPRISED TO KNOW I STARTED RECOVERING AMAZINGLY..YIELDING BETTER RESULT OF MEDICATION & HAVING A GOOD SLEEP SOON.....FEW MONTHS AGO AFTER 11 YEARS MY CAT DIED BUT SHE LEFT ME STRONG & SENSITIVE IN ALL RESPECT.....THIS IS SANJIB FROM INDIA (sanjibkumar_sinha@yahoo.co.in)
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