According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), having a family dog can benefit your child’s emotional intelligence helping them to develop into a smarter, more empathetic, and possibly healthier child.
There are several ways children can benefit from having a family dog. According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), several studies show that children with a family pet have an advantage over kids who don't.
Higher self-esteem: When given age-appropriate tasks to complete, such as helping with caring for a pet, kids developed higher self-esteem.
More compassion and empathy: many studies show that children with pets are more empathetic toward others.
They feel supported: Pets are a wonderful neutral sounding board and provide unconditional love, providing friendship that children can rely on.
Better cognitive skills: children who partake in dog training have been shown to have higher cognitive skills. Many children like to practice reading to their pets too!
Less stress: the act of simply petting an animal has been shown to reduce cortisol levels in children and adults.
Happier: playing with animals increases serotonin and dopamine in the brain, which increases your mood.
Healthier: children with pets are more active.
More Responsible: caring for a pet is the perfect training for becoming a responsible adult.
According to the American Animal Hospital Association AAHA, many toxic household items are poisonous to pets. To help you take precautionary measures to ensure your pets are safe, here is a list of the most frequent offenders, many of which can be found in and around your home.
Over-the-counter medications
Even a medication that does not require a prescription can be extremely dangerous to your pet. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen and naproxen can cause acute kidney failure and should never be given to pets. Do not try to treat your pet’s medical problems without consulting an AAHA-accredited veterinarian, and never give him a medication that is not approved for veterinary use.
Human prescription medications
Keep all medications, both prescription and over-the-counter, safely stored inside a medicine cabinet or cupboard or up high where your pet can't reach them, and ask your visitors to do the same.
Toxic Foods
Many foods that are safe for people can be deadly to pets. Keep the following toxic foods away from your beloved companion:
Chocolate
Xylitol (often found in sugar-free gum)
Macadamia nuts
Grapes and raisins
Onions
Garlic
Alcohol
Caffeinated drinks
Raw yeast dough
Raw or undercooked meat
Never leave food where your pet can reach it, and keep pets out of the kitchen when children are eating to prevent them from gobbling up dropped food.
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