Many of us have pets at home and consider them important parts of our lives. But did you know that animals can help us when we are struggling with our physical, mental, or emotional health? In today’s episode, Dr. Minni talks about the numerous benefits of pet therapy and how animals can act as our healers. We hear about how they help people overcome loneliness, stress, anxiety, and improve overall self-worth. Dr. Minni also sheds light on the ways animals aid cancer and stroke patients’ recovery. Animals not only fill our emotional cup, but they encourage us to be healthy and spend more time outdoors. Remember, if you want to bring a pet into your life, you need to do proper research and ensure you treat it with all the love and care it deserves.

Key Points From This Episode:

• Hear about the four ways that pets benefit human health along with some of the risks.
• The insights doctors gain when they find out whether patients have pets.
• What animal-assisted therapy is and the ways it promotes and enables healing.
• Find out whether there are risks that come with pet therapy.
• How pet therapy can be used to overcome loneliness.
• Pets help relieve stress, anxiety, and depressive feelings.
• Why caring for an animal can improve self-worth and self-esteem.
• The ways that therapy dogs can help people who are living with cancer.
• How animals can help support stroke patients with their recovery.
• Therapy dogs create friendships and help with social interaction and communication.
• Hear how animals encourage better diets and improve our appetites.
• Other ways that animals can help us, including surgery recovery and improving heart health.
• You have to look after your pet if you want it to look after yourself.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Dr. Minni Malhotra on LinkedIn

Dr. Minni Malhotra Email

Anchor Wellness Center

Caring Canines Program at Mayo Clinic