Pets and people are spending quality time together – from exercising (37%), visiting the coffee shop (19%) and even celebrating birthdays (41%), according to a new survey by Purina Pro Plan.
And not only are pets getting more out of life as a result, people are also feeling the benefit – with respondents saying they feel more relaxed (60%), less lonely (55%), physically fitter (44%), and more confident (19%) when they spend time with their pet. Purina’s new supplement range aims to help support pets to live their best lives, enabling them to continue to do the things they love to do alongside their owners, even when they meet challenges along the way.
We all want more out of life and increasingly we’re bringing our pets along on the journey too. Purina® asked over 1200 pet owners about the health and wellbeing activities they enjoyed with their pet and found that pets and their owners were getting more out of life together. Pets are joining their owners on days out – with 33% saying their pets come along on holidays and events. Over a quarter (28%) meditate and spend quiet time with their pet. And the benefits are not just felt by pets – 19% said that owning a pet helped them feel more confident in social situations and 55% said they felt less lonely as a result of the companionship offered by their pet.
It’s well documented that pets help to support their owners’ wellbeing – whether that’s encouraging them to stay fit and active or providing much-needed emotional support during stressful times. But pets too can face difficulties from time to time so pet parents are now looking for ways to return the kindness and support their pet’s health – and for many the answer is to be found in supplements.
It is estimated that around 40% of dogs experience some kind of health or welfare challenge during their lives. This can be due to traumatic injury or ill health, but can include lifestyle challenges such as moving house, getting lost, or facing changes in family structure or routines. Cats and dogs that are ageing can also experience reduced immunity, joint stiffness, or anxiety which may be exacerbated by diminished hearing or sight. All of these ‘bumps in the road’ may require support for a limited period of time, or sometimes a little longer, which may be met by giving their cats and dogs nutritional supplements. Around 25% of all pets that are fed supplements are given them all the time.
Purina vet, Libby Sheridan, says pet parents increasingly view their pets as members of the family and want them to benefit from the same levels of care that they give themselves, “Most lifespans – for pets and people – are longer than their ‘healthspans’ which relates more to the quality of life. Many of us will have experienced ‘bumps in the road’ that affect our health and wellbeing and understand that sometimes we need help to get us through that rough patch. With that understanding, pet parents are often looking to find ways to provide additional support to improve the quality of life of their pets.”
She continued, “Supplements can provide extra support when pets need it and together with a high quality, complete and balanced petfood, exercise, and access to veterinary care, they can help pets live long and happy lives.”
