Pets can help us reduce our stress levels say experts

April is stress awareness month, and leading vet charity PDSA is highlighting the positive impact that pets may have on our mental health.

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PDSA Vet Nurse Nina Downing said: “Stress can affect us all - busy lives, juggling family and work commitments, and financial pressures can all cause challenges. In fact, the Office for National Statistics found that over a fifth of adults (22.5 per cent) in the UK rated their anxiety as high the previous day, between July and September 2024-a long-term increase.

"But as a vet nurse and pet owner myself, I know that our pets can help to reduce some of the impacts of stress, and that they really do help us through hard times.”

According to the charity's PAW Report, nine out of ten dog and cat owners say that owning their pet improves their life (92 per cent of dog owners and 91 per cent of cat owners). So why is this?