Are you interested in having a pet—but apprehensive due to your chronic kidney disease? DaVita Kidney Care and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explains the health benefits of animals and safety tips for having a pet when you have CKD.
Committing to becoming a pet owner can be a difficult decision for many, much less for people with chronic kidney disease (CKD). You may be concerned that your illness and lifestyle may prevent you from being able to care for an animal. DaVita Kidney Care and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) address the benefits of having a pet,* how to find the right pet for you, and safety tips for owning a pet if you have CKD.**
If you are concerned about an animal harming your health, multiple studies have shown the opposite. Researchers found both physical and mental benefits to owning a pet for people at all stages of chronic kidney disease.
Some of the benefits of owning a pet include the following:
DaVita Kidney Care shared feedback from Lori Hartwell, a CKD patient who receives peritoneal dialysis. “My animals are part of my everyday life; they are part of my family,” said Hartwell. “They help me in immeasurable ways.”
Assessing your home, physical ability to care for another being, and overall lifestyle will help to determine what type of pet is best for you.
The following are some things to consider when choosing a pet:
You don’t necessarily need to own a pet to receive the great health benefits they provide. Many animal shelters and humane societies need help caring for the animals that are brought to them, including taking dogs on walks, playing with cats, and more.
Volunteering at a local shelter or providing temporary foster care are two great ways to help out your community and improve your health. Reach out to your local animal shelter for more information on how to get involved in their volunteer program.
Regardless of what stage CKD you are in, it’s important to take precautions to ensure your safety. Following these steps will help prevent you from potentially getting sick from being around an animal.
More information on the benefits of living with pets if you have chronic kidney disease can be found on the Renal Support Network (RSN) website.
*DaVita Kidney Care. (n.d.). Better Living Through Pets. https://www.davita.com/education/ckd-life/better-living-through-pets
**Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Organ Transplant Patients: Pet Safety Tips. https://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/specific-groups/organ-transplant-patients.html
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