According to a new study, Emotional Support Animals help in creating strong human-to-human bonds and social support, which are good for long-term health and an effective way to eliminate anxiety and social isolation. Past studies reveal that veterans with PTSD are do not require drugs (or with reduced doses) for their condition when they are prescribed an emotional support animal. They are also less likely to be suicidal.
Moreover, researchers have collected insightful evidence that keeping pets have biological effects, such as high levels of oxytocin, which enables your pet to offer better support by understanding your expressions and helping you deal with paranoia.
Emotional support animals help individuals dealing with mental disabilities to overcome depression and anxiety. It is important that you must research the right kind of pet so that you can take good care of it. If you are getting a dog that comes from a high energy breed, make sure you don’t live in a small apartment or have long working hours. Your emotional support dog will then be left alone at home with little space to roam around. If you want an unusual emotional support animal like a snake, make sure it has a heat source and enough space to crawl around.
Different animals have different needs regarding care and even within the same species, different breeds may behave differently. To benefit from an emotional support animal, you must focus on the pet’s needs first and not your wants. Only then you will be able to get love and affection an emotional support animal has to offer. Here are a few ways you can take care of an emotional support animal:
Food and Treats
Feeding your pet is your way to show how much you care for your pet. Find the best foods and treats for your pet by checking with your veterinarian or from your local pet stores. You will easily find relevant information on what kind of food your emotional support animal likes and how often he needs to be fed.
Regular Check-Ups
Regular veterinarian visits are important for making sure you emotional support animal is safe and free from infections. Early detection of urinary tract infections, illnesses and food allergies help you save on future treatment costs. Treat any infection before it becomes worse. Fleas can also plague pets and lead to irritated skin and infection if you have a dog or a cat. If your pet swallows a parasite, he will end up with tapeworms which can further cause internal infections.
Grooming
· Clip nails of your dog or cat frequently
· If you have a dog, brush its teeth regularly
· Bathing takes care of dander and itching and also helps to make your pet feel comfortable
· Brushing an animal’s coat is one of the best ways to give your pets the attention they crave
Maintain a Regular Schedule
Keeping a regular schedule helps you pamper your emotional support animal. This also helps your pet to function in a routine and he does not behave erratically. Your emotional support animal will know when to go out and when to be ready for bed or play. A set routine helps to create a great relationship with your emotional support animal.
Final Thoughts
Animals are stay in the moment and are emotionally present. This is why they act as a buffer for their human handlers when life takes unpleasant turns. Emotional support animals offer reassurance and unconditional love by simply being there. This is why it is important that they should also be taken care of so that they are able to provide love and live peacefully without posing a danger to the people around them.
