How Important Are Pets To Your Health?

[MaryKay]

A friend lost a beloved pet recently, I know how that feels.
I was wondering with all our assorted illnesses what role to pets play in the healing/coping of your life?

My dog is under my feet all the time. I have to climb over her to get out of bed or out of a chair. She is always ready for a walk or to play, but she seems to know when I feel down. She sits and stares at me until I pet her. For some reason that makes ME feel better.
At 11pm she gets agitated until I get up to let her out, instead of going out she sits by my kitchen chair..It's time for my shot. She watches me do my insulin, as soon as I am done, she walks away.

My cats are of little help, but they do keep me busy! These are the first cats I have ever had that don't want to sit on you..but they do follow me and the dog around the house.

My dog is an 80 pound German Shepard, she is so gentle with mom. She will sit by her but never bumps her when she walks or tries to get mom to throw her squeaky duck like she does with us. Once in a while I will find all her toys around mom's chair..like the dog thinks mom needs them.
She loves to rough house with the G'sons and the cats!
How do your animals heal you?

[Walrus]

Well... my 11 year old Akita, Shogun, is my kindred spirit. He aches in just about all of his bones, and I know that when I'm hurting, so is he. He's almost always by my side when I'm at home (which is most of the time). No matter what time I wake up, he's lying at the foot of my bed. I know to be careful not to step on him when I get up. He is the one that I know I will get unconditional love from, no matter my mood or how badly I've acted. I can still walk him because his pace is no faster than mine.

My 6 month old Bull Mastiff/Catahoula Leopard mix, Boudin, is my comic relief. Whether it just be by being silly and prancing around with a toy in his mouth, bouncing off the furniture, or out-smarting the kids for the treat hiding behind their backs, he keeps me smiling.

[MaryKay]

My son had an Akita he left with us when he moved to an apt. His name was Kiki. He was massive!! A Japanese purebred he was 160 lbs the last time he was weighed.
A very confused woman once asked me what he was..I said a cross between a cow and a chow, she drove off happy.

When Kiki decided to leave the yard, he would just put his head down and push the fence over..it was field fencing. He loved cats and washed them with his tongue until they were soaked. He tried that with the chickens too but they really, really hated it and played dead, just like a possum.

Kiki was Mike's dog, he loved to mow grass with Mike walking just ahead of the mower for as long as it took! They were buddies. While Mike had open heart, that dog refused to leave his side once Mike got home.

This is Ki, with Mom in the background and her little Boston Terrier, Doodlebug

[Jules22871]

I had my wreck almost 5 years ago and have had major problems and lots of surgeries since then. My sons bought my dog Buddy, a Cardigan Welsh Corgi/Border collie mix for me for mother's day 3 years ago from our local shelter. He has only known me in the shape I'm in now. He is fiercely protective of me. No matter what time of nigth he will follow me to the bathroom and then back to the couch. He will not allow any strange people near me. He won't growl or bark at them, just get in between me and them. He even does this with our Pastor,lol One time I got up to answer the door since it was just a few days since the hubby had a total knee replacement done. Scotty came in and started to wave at the hubby and I guess Buddy thought he was going to hit me and he ran poor Scotty out of the house,lol

No matter where I'd had a surgery at, he would guard that spot. He wouldn't get on it, but would be right next to it as if he was keeping that place safe. When I had to be in a hospital bed for a few months (that looked just great in my living room) he was upset because he couldn't get up there with me. I sleep on our couch, only place I can get semi comfortable and he sleeps right at my feet. He always makes me smile and he is always by my side. He is so attached to me that the vet has told us that if I'm going to be in the hospital for more than 2-3 days, we need to get him so doggie valium since he has such severe separation when it comes to me.

I think pets are a huge plus in any recovery and in being just happy in general. At least in my house it's that way.

[Walrus]

Originally Posted by MaryKay

My son had an Akita he left with us when he moved to an apt. His name was Kiki. He was massive!! A Japanese purebred he was 160 lbs the last time he was weighed.
A very confused woman once asked me what he was..I said a cross between a cow and a chow, she drove off happy.

When Kiki decided to leave the yard, he would just put his head down and push the fence over..it was field fencing. He loved cats and washed them with his tongue until they were soaked. He tried that with the chickens too but they really, really hated it and played dead, just like a possum.

Kiki was Mike's dog, he loved to mow grass with Mike walking just ahead of the mower for as long as it took! They were buddies. While Mike had open heart, that dog refused to leave his side once Mike got home.

This is Ki, with Mom in the background and her little Boston Terrier, Doddlebug

Beautiful dog. They are an extremely loyal breed. I take it he's not around anymore? I dread the day Shogun passes away. It will be like losing a best friend and child all at once. His vet says he's the oldest Akita she's ever seen.

Here are a couple of pictures of him with my daughter Sarah:

[jen28f]

My pets are the second most important thing to me besides my family. I have 2 boston terriers (mother and daughter). They are named Zoe and Moxie. I always tell people my anti depressant is Zomox. Zomox makes me feel better than any other medication I take! (My painkillers do run a close second!)

[Ann]

Animals are my life. I have 14 goats 2 donkeys and 4 cats and 1 flying squirrel and 2 ferrets and now I'm raising 6 baby possums.
They call me the "Ellie May of the neighborhood or Doctor Doolittle.
My babies are there for me no matter what. They love me no matter what.
That is why I say life is poop and paper towels..lol

[Jules22871]

Originally Posted by Ann

Animals are my life. I have 14 goats 2 donkeys and 4 cats and 1 flying squirrel and 2 ferrets and now I'm raising 6 baby possums.
They call me the "Ellie May of the neighborhood or Doctor Doolittle.
My babies are there for me no matter what. They love me no matter what.
That is why I say life is poop and paper towels..lol

You sound like my daughter. I tease her and tell her she is a future cat lady,lol I love animals and would have more if I could. We have 2 dogs and 2 cats and since I rent right now we are pushing our luck with the ones we have. Once we move though, look out. I will have a small farm myself!

[deliza]

Originally Posted by Walrus

Well... my 11 year old Akita, Shogun, is my kindred spirit. He aches in just about all of his bones, and I know that when I'm hurting, so is he. He's almost always by my side when I'm at home (which is most of the time). No matter what time I wake up, he's lying at the foot of my bed. I know to be careful not to step on him when I get up. He is the one that I know I will get unconditional love from, no matter my mood or how badly I've acted. I can still walk him because his pace is no faster than mine.

My 6 month old Bull Mastiff/Catahoula Leopard mix, Boudin, is my comic relief. Whether it just be by being silly and prancing around with a toy in his mouth, bouncing off the furniture, or out-smarting the kids for the treat hiding behind their backs, he keeps me smiling.

I love Catahoulas!! I had never laid eyes on one, or even heard of one, until I did volunteer work finding peoples lost pets after Katrina, but then a friend of mine ran a rescue on a blind and deaf Catahoula, and she was the most fabulous dog...... well, lets just say I now have a soft spot for them

[deliza]

Originally Posted by jen28f

My pets are the second most important thing to me besides my family. I have 2 boston terriers (mother and daughter). They are named Zoe and Moxie. I always tell people my anti depressant is Zomox. Zomox makes me feel better than any other medication I take! (My painkillers do run a close second!)

I have a dog named Moxie, too