Owning a pet can be a roller coaster. There are the highs, like when your dog greets you with a full-body wiggle, or your cat purrs loudly as the two of you cuddle up.
But there are also the lows, the stressful trips to urgent care, waking up to that unpleasant vomiting noise and making the difficult choice to say goodbye because of medical problems or even intractable behavioral issues. For those pet owners who are struggling, it’s beneficial to their mental health to acknowledge that pets can create stress and that some animals are more work than others.
Research has shown that both cats and dogs can have equally positive effects on human mental health. But while the positives are numerous and wonderful, the downsides are less often publicly discussed. For instance, some studies have found that pets can exacerbate their owners’ worrying and feelings of guilt and even their sleep problems.
As a licensed clinical social worker, animal lover and proud dog mom, I have professionally and personally seen the mental health impacts of having animal companions.
The good news about pets
A pet owner may easily be able to tick off an infinite number of positive effects their fuzzy companion has had on their life. Research backs them up.
Companion cats, dogs and other animals can provide companionship for individuals and families.
Research shows that dogs can reduce loneliness in their owners, and being accompanied by a dog may even make you more approachable. Pets, especially dogs, also may help improve one’s ability to socialize and feel connected to others, as well as increase prospects for social interactions. People may bond over the experience of having pets, socialize at the dog park or even meet up at the local cat cafe.
Animals and pets have also been used to assist in detecting the onset symptoms of medical episodes, including seizures. Animal-assisted therapy and pet therapy have shown promise in improving symptom management and overall quality of life for numerous medical conditions.
The less-good news
Despite the many positive impacts of pet ownership, it’s not all sunshine. For example, one survey found that 47 percent of Americans felt separation anxiety when leaving their dogs at home.
The survey also found that 41 percent of pet owners declined social invitations because they did not want to leave their dog at home, and that 69 percent of pet owners would prefer to work remotely so they could stay at home with their pet. Pet owners have also identified feeling anxious about their pet getting sick or running away, or the risk that they might harm the animal unintentionally.
Stress from pet ownership is common. There’s the stress of house-training and making sure the pet is getting enough enrichment — both physically and mentally. Then there are the challenges associated with vet appointments and navigating illness, as well as financial stressors and finding pet sitters.
People also rarely talk about the stress, and even shame, that owners of reactive dogs experience from walking their dog, having people over to the house or having their dog around children.
Finally, there’s the reality that our pet companions live shorter lives than we do, leading to end-of-life planning, expensive treatments for older-age ailments and of course, the grief that will be felt from the loss of a pet. For some people, the loss of a pet may feel worse than human loss.
People may judge or criticize pet owners for an “overblown” grief reaction. The common experience of invalidation and lack of acknowledgment related to grief around pet loss — similar to the grief felt from divorce and miscarriage — is categorized as disenfranchised grief. This term refers to grief that is not acknowledged, validated or accepted socially.
Some strings attached
Pet owners, especially post-pandemic, have reported high levels of guilt related to leaving their pets at home while at work or social events.
As someone who adores their dog, I can relate. To complicate things, my dog has joint issues, anxiety and discoid lupus, a type of lupus that affects the skin on his nose. He can also be reactive. All of these aspects require me to provide extra care. When friends invalidate my worries and guilt, it can feel isolating and shaming.
And I’m not alone in these feelings. Overall, when there is a lack of consideration for the complex feelings pet owners experience, the invalidation and disenfranchised feelings can lead to depression, anxiety, feelings of being isolated and worsened quality of life.
Finding support
The human-animal bond is unique, with humans receiving unconditional love and full acceptance from their animal companion. When society can honor and respect this bond through validation, patience and compassion, it not only helps pet owners, but also the clinicians who treat the animals.
Employers can be supportive by providing remote and hybrid work options, and flexibility in scheduling. If a loved one is experiencing guilt around leaving their dog at home or a friend is having anxiety about their cat’s health, instead of minimizing their experience, try talking to them and asking how best to support them through their distress.
Another support tool is encouraging pet owners to practice self-compassion and mindfulness, being present and focusing on the time they do have with their pet.
Pets can bring infinite joy and companionship to our lives, whether that’s through pet ownership, fostering, volunteering or engaging in animal-assisted therapy.
However, it remains important to acknowledge the stressors and difficulties pet owners face. After all, the ups and downs of pet ownership, just like the ups and downs of the human experience, are what make life and relationships that much more meaningful.
Emily Hemendinger is an assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.
This article was produced in collaboration with theconversation.com.
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