But the benefits of touch go beyond the feel-good sensation. For instance, people and pets share an instinctive reflex to touch a painful injury. In fact, when you clutch a bruised shin or kiss your child s boo-boo, you really do make the hurt feel better. Touch therapies have been a part of human medicine for centuries, and most cultures around the world developed their own specialized techniques. 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.