Today, therapeutic touch offers important healing benefits as part of holistic veterinary medicine. Research shows that contact with companion animals is good for human health. Touching a pet actually reduces our risk for disease, promotes healthy emotional relationships, and even helps us live longer. That's because many health conditions are directly related to the level of stress in a person's life. Contact with a beloved cat or dog reduces stress, making us less susceptible illness.
Humans aren t the only ones reaping the rewards.
Animal experts say touching a furry companion not only improves your own well being, but also promotes emotional and physical health in the dog or cat that's touched. He says this indicates relaxation, which influences and helps alleviate stress. You have powerful medicine in your hands. He explains that the nervous system and reflexes throughout the body are all interconnected. Some forms of touch actually change the patterns of brain waves.