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Posted 2/5/2010 12:44 PM (GMT 0)
I have 6 cats and have found that they actually help a lot with the fibro pain, especially on very bad days when they come to cuddle with me. Days when a human touch is excruciating, touching and petting my kitties often makes me feel better.

Do any of you have pets and do you find that they help you?
Posted 2/5/2010 1:08 PM (GMT 0)
I have a Golden Retriever and a Basset Hound and they both help me with coping with the Fibro. and they are just so comforting.  I think pets are wonderful for health in general.

Posted 2/5/2010 1:59 PM (GMT 0)
I love my two cats Charlie and Frankie. They always know when I need some extra

loving and I love returning some love. A few years ago my cat Scooter who was 17

died. He got me through alot of hard days.

My Cat Scooter

 

My cat Scooter was an orange tabby male

He was my fur baby and a loving pal

 

Many hours he sat by my side

He was there when I laughed and there when I cried

 

Seventeen years he was my boy

Who gave me love and lots of joy

 

How I miss him by my side

I lost a good buddy the day he died

 

Robin

 
Posted 2/5/2010 2:24 PM (GMT 0)
I am a dog owner, and yes, they are so comforting. They love you unconditioinally and are still there when you feel bad.

I lost a dog in November and have been struggling with that. But hope to get a puppy this spring. I still have one dog, her name is Chance. She is a sweetheart. Lays with me when I don't feel good.

I think having pets is wonderful.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 2/5/2010 2:55 PM (GMT 0)
There are a lot of pet lovers on this forum Susan, myself included. When we lost our Brandy about a year and half ago she was the last dog we were going to have. She was perfect and we knew we would never find another dog that came close to the dog she was. Yeah, that mind set lasted a couple of months and I couldn't take spending so much time alone in a dead house.

 

Fast forward to today. I have a 17 mo old bichon and almost 11 mo old shih tzu that I have had since they were tiny puppies. Oh believe me this house is alive now smilewinkgrin

 

I usually lay down on the couch in the late afternoons to rest for awhile and Krissy, the bichon, cuddles as close to my stomach as she can get and Tique, the shih tzu, gets behind my knees and they seem to know that it is Mommy's rest time and they take a nap.

 

Bichon's are very intelligent dogs, that's what Brandy was, and Krissy seems to know where I hurt the worse and goes to that spot.

 

I told DH if I had a few more dogs I wouldn't need a heating pad. From the look he gave me I don't think he agrees.tongue

 

luv and hugs

Marlee

Posted 2/5/2010 3:04 PM (GMT 0)
Marlee,

Chance likes to lay in the crook of my knees too. That is a comforting feeling. I am glad that you are enjoying your dogs so much.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 2/5/2010 4:07 PM (GMT 0)
My hubby and I have one cat, a black/grey tabby named Dorie. She'll be 1 in April and we brought her home when she was 7 weeks old. She is an absolute delight. She's not much of a cuddler, but she's so entertaining when she's playing that I'm constantly laughing at her antics...and it's hard to feel pain when you're laughing!

When Ray gets home from work, she runs to the door to greet him, and then he picks her up and we have a family hug. She sleeps in our bedroom at night, on "her" chair, and often when I wake up, I'll see one of her toys on our bed - a gift from her.

I've always had cats, and we had been "petless" for 3 years before we got Dorie...and I can't imagine life without her now. She is a true comfort.

Pam
Posted 2/5/2010 4:15 PM (GMT 0)
Robin, what a beautiful poem! Losing a furry friend is so hard! cry

I have had a total of 10 cats since over a 39-year time frame, and six of them are with me now. My cats live to nice, ripe old ages. I'm so grateful for that since it's so hard to lose them. I have found that pets are just as much a part of a family as people.

With the exception of Gizmo (my Himalayan), all of my cats have been adopted either from the Humane Society or the SPCA. Gizmo was given to us when the woman who owned him couldn't keep him. In addition to him, I have a black tabby (Zachary), two orange tabbies (Nomis and Simon), a calico (Aura), and a silver/gold mix who's very, very chubby and runs like a raccoon (Charlotte). They are all so affectionate and cuddly.

I'm so glad that so many of you feel the health benefit of loving pets. :-)
Posted 2/5/2010 4:47 PM (GMT 0)
Pets are just has comforting as any bed buddy, heating pad or hot bath...at least for me.  Anyone that hasn't had a boo-boo kissed by a dog doesn't know what they are missing! (or cat).  And no...I'm not afraid of the germs.  A dogs mouth is cleaner than a humans!

 

Huggies

Donna

Posted 2/5/2010 5:03 PM (GMT 0)
Sabra, my Havanese, is my fourth child.  I absolutely adore her and she helped me through the loss of my husband.  She was there to kiss away the tears and now is never more than five feet from me at all times.  She snuggles with me in the morning, which I love, and sleeps with me at night.  I sleep on my side so she snuggles against my back. 

 

My two cats, Mama Kitty and Roary, were feral.  My daughters caught them and they have a great home here.  They don't even try to get outside now!  They know what that is like.  Their antics make me laugh and Mama is the real lover of the two.

 

Animals help so much with not only pain but blood pressure and I'm sure other things.  When you are petting you four legged friend, your blood pressure does go down, for many people.  I think they help relieve stress and stress is a fibromite's enemy.  Now they are bringing therapy pets into nursing homes and such so, yes, our pets help us in soooo many different ways.  I can't live without a pet.

 

Sherrine 

Posted 2/5/2010 7:28 PM (GMT 0)
Oh boy did you come to the right place to ask about pets! Some of us are even considered a little on the nuts side of loving their animals...yes, me!! My "boys" are my world. I have two Golden Retrievers and they are everything to me. I have had Goldens for over 25 years, a total of five. I also had a Bichon Frise and a mutt, Cassidy. Oh yes, also had three cats! I really believe without my boys, there would be days I would not get out of bed. They need to be fed and exercised...only down side to having dogs and high energy ones at that, but on the other hand, they do encourage me to exercise, if only to take them out in the yard and play. Otherwise, I walk them. And they love me unconditionally in return. Lately I have had a lot of tear filled days (withdrawing from antidepressants) and my Cheyenne is so sensitive to my tears, it is just amazing. He is always there to give me a big ol furry hug and kiss my tears away.  My "kids" have always slept in our (my DH and my) bed, always, including the cats. In fact Herbie, our Bichon, use to sleep right next to me and then our cats would be surrounding him...so sweet!  The funny thing is, as high energy as my Goldens are, they seem to sense when I'm having a bad pain day. As much as they love to play, go for walks, wrestle, they just seem to know when there are days I just can't do it. I cannot imagine my life without my boys!

Posted 2/5/2010 8:45 PM (GMT 0)
Pets are wonderful - I think they are better than antidepressants! We have a big Goldendoodle and a crazy black cat. In the evening the dog lies on my feet and the cat curls up on my lap - a heating pad on my back and I am completely warm!

Our dog is so funny, whenever anyone in the house hugs she has to join in and stick her head in between you. My kids call it "family hug" - she is the sweetest dog. When she took her Canine Good Citizen class they said she would make a good therapy dog she is so calm.
Posted 2/5/2010 9:27 PM (GMT 0)
Upbeat, I take one of my dogs every week over to the home where my mom lives - she has Alzheimer's and there are quite a few there with dementia. Cheyenne is 6-1/2 years old, never went for any special therapy training, just a sweet ol boy. As crazy as he can be, and he can really be crazy, we walk into that place and he just knows to behave. He has NEVER tried to jump on anyone, just stands there and lets people pet him, which of course, he just loves. I think training is vital with dogs, but in the end, personality is also key. One of these days, I am going to have to take a camera with me when I bring him there, to get photos of the residents' facial expressions...they love being with Cheyenne...
take care
Miriam
Posted 2/5/2010 9:32 PM (GMT 0)
Oh yes Susan. You brought up a great topic. Lots of animal lovers here. My golden is my third and I have had a lab and German shepherd mixes too. Late in the afternoon when I don't feel like it, we go for a long walk and it perks me up! I might have fur all over my house and clothes, but it is worth it.
Posted 2/5/2010 9:53 PM (GMT 0)
Growing up I had cats and dogs instead of brothers and sisters, even as far back as an infant. We had a group of animals from the time I was 7 till I was 18, 10 cats and 4 dogs. Now I have 2 cats, a 7 y/o tabby, Persian and bobcat mix, Princess Jet, and a 2 y/o tabby mix, Typhon. And then I have my biggest baby, Zeus, a 130lbs Norwegian Elkhound and Alaskan Malamute mix, not exactly sure of his age, but he doesn't have all his teeth yet LOL His vet said he can get up to 200lbs. Zeus can be found 3 ft from me when I'm home, doesn't matter where I am even though DH doesn't want the dog on the bed, Zeus sneaks into bed every night after I've gone to sleep but before hubby comes to bed. Zeus sleeps against my back, Jet curls herself around the top of my head. Typhon's my scaredy cat, he hides until my son goes to bed, Typhon doesn't like anyone or anything but me LOL
My furry babies have kept me sane during my son's extended trips to his other family, they help ease some of my pain, and honestly, unconditional love just can't be beat.
Posted 2/6/2010 12:22 AM (GMT 0)
Miriam - that is great that you take your dog. I'll bet you enjoy it as much as the residents do! Katie is so calm and she is happy just sitting next to me and following me around the house.
Posted 2/6/2010 1:19 AM (GMT 0)
im a vet tech in training, i also have 2 horses, a cat, a dog and a fuzzy chinchilla that are all helping my deal with my fibro, its nice to just cuddle up with someone and not think about pain!
Posted 2/6/2010 2:23 PM (GMT 0)
Mrs. Cavbar
My "mutt" Cassidy was part Norwegian Elkhound, but she was 45 pounds! Well, that was when she was really old and arthritic and lost her appetite. I think during her earlier years, she was around 65 pounds. I cannot imagine 200 lbs!! Must be the Malamute in her!! OY! and the shedding! You have your hands full with those breeds, the undercoats. When Cassidy began to shed her coat, it took me weeks to really get rid of it. Oh well, certainly worth all the love and joy they bring to us, not to mention the warmth and a good snuggle!
Miriam
Posted 2/6/2010 6:51 PM (GMT 0)
How do you guys deal with all the hair??? Tique is shedding her baby hair, didn't know shih tzus did that til after I got her but it wouldn't have made any difference I would have gotten her anyway. Having had bichons I haven't had to deal with dog hair since I was much younger and had a lot more energy to keep up with it. She is blonde so everything dark colored has a coating of hair on it. She was just groomed Monday and I brush her daily but it is still all over everything. I got the Pledge Pet Hair thingy and use lint rollers on clothes. She should be done with this in a couple of months and won't shed again. I have cleaned up enough hair to make 4 dogs a coat.

 

I'm still debating about the sleeping arrangements. I have never had a dog that didn't sleep with us til now. Krissy is so hyper and can't be trusted not to get into things yet so that is why she hasn't slept with us but Tique is such a little laid-back calm soul there wouldn't be a problem with her sleeping with us but I won't let one without the other sleep with us. They have a pen in the family room with big pillows and blankets it in and they have no problem going in it at night at bedtime. Tique sleeps in it during the day too to take naps. Sleep is precious to me and I have been getting so little of it lately as it is but I do miss having a furry body up against me at night. I've thought about trying it for a night and see how it works out but what if they have a problem going back in the pen if it don't. We do let them on the bed sometimes and play with them so they know where it is, Tique still can't get on it by herself.

 

luv and hugs

Marlee

Posted 2/6/2010 7:08 PM (GMT 0)
Marlee, with two Goldens, I am constantly spitting out dog hair, or picking it off my lips, or out of my ears...I know, gross...I just don't care. Awful, aren't I? Yes, there was a time I would vacuum everything, use lint rollers, put sheets on everything...now...not so much. I still cover the furniter with blankets and sheets, that's much easier to clean than constantly cleaning leather and most of my floors is flooring rather than carpeting, so easier to clean that too. I guess I've just learned to live with it.
As far as the sleeping arrangements, I'm not sure I understand the problem. What do you think Krissy will do? You think she's going to jump off the bed during the night and run around? Or run around on the bed? I think she is smart enough to train that bedtime is bedtime; so probably not a great idea to play with her on the bed, unless you go to bed 10 or 15 minutes earlier than normal, bring her in and play with her and then tell her it's sleep time and try to calm her down. Does she like to be brushed? Have her belly rubbed? Get a massage? You could do those things right before turning off the lights. My Bichon Herbie loved massages, but HATED to be brushed. Boy I had to really fight with him to get him brushed and they are really high maintenance, their coats. I would coax him with a body massage or little treats. That little brat had me wrapped right around his little paw :)
take care
Miriam
Posted 2/9/2010 7:32 PM (GMT 0)
I have two cats, and they help me feel better. My kitten, Fiesty, she likes to come up and lie down on my chest when I am lying on the couch. She just lies down and starts purring. I'll pet her and she falls asleep on my chest. It's really sweet. They both seem to know when I am having a particularly hard day because they always want more attention on those days.
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