Wellness is a non-judgmental, non-competitive active discipline of making personal choices towards a fulfilling and healthy life. It’s more than being cured from the disease, it’s a creative process of growth and transformation. A state of total well-being; a satisfactory or positive condition of life; complete welfare, which includes physical, mental, social, emotional, spiritual, and creative aspects of one’s life. Wellness, as John Hills describes it, is “the vital force that unites the elements of vitality and life, creating a positive balance of the three.” The definition of what wellness is has changed over time but has remained a goal worthy of achievement for all individuals and groups who try to achieve it.
Some elements of wellness are behavior and psychology; others are medical and biological, with well-being being defined in part by the extent to which these elements are integrated in one’s life and practice. In fact, well-being is not only about diagnosing a disease or injuries, but also about addressing and dealing with those events that impact a person’s life on a daily basis. While there are many components of wellness, including self-care, social well-being, occupational well-being, family well-being, and environmental well-being, veterinarians should be at the top of the list for any definition of self-care. It is important to provide daily personalized self-care for pets as the animals are a special part of the family.
Pet wellness involves physical, mental health, and self-care; while all three areas are intertwined, it is important to address the issues that directly affect the animals in the home environment. Animals in the home deserve better conditions and greater care than they are currently receiving. Allowing for wellness and encouraging your pet to be healthy will benefit you, your home, and your animal. Pet wellness extends to the environment where your family members are living, working, playing, and interacting with your animals.
Environmentally, a caring and complete physical wellness program for pets should be a high priority. Making sure that the surrounding environment is free of toxic and other chemicals can help promote good health for all. In fact, some toxins act like toxins in humans, potentially weakening the immune system, increasing the likelihood of developing illnesses and diseases, and causing more serious after-effects. In addition, an adverse environmental environment can also promote unhealthy responses from pets to stress and other experiences, causing confusion and behavioral problems. The emotional well-being of both humans and animals is affected by the health of the surrounding environment.
Wellness and pet wellness are intertwined for many reasons. Pet owners need to know and understand the difference between caring for a pet in a way that promotes health, and caring for their pet in a manner that will promote well-being. The active process is necessary to promote wellness, because it involves taking time to get together with your pet, exercising together, playing with each other, and spending quality time with each other. It requires being physically and emotionally fit to facilitate the active process. It is no wonder that many pet owners find themselves feeling less stressed and more fulfilled in their relationships than they have in years. This active process is what is meant when a word such as “wellness” is mentioned, and it connects you back to a time when people felt mentally and physically whole and vibrant.
Wellness and pet wellness are closely connected because both involve the active involvement and physical activity that create a sense of well-being. Pet owners who spend time together physically and mentally improve their relationships, and they learn how to make and keep good connections with others. Pet owners who exercise together to improve their physical health and increase their emotional wellness. The active process is what is meant when a word such as “wellness” is mentioned, and it links you back to a time when people felt mentally and physically whole and vibrant. Pet owners who take part in wellness activities also help to save energy and money. Pets and well-being go hand-in-hand, and pets can be treated as a member of the family – a natural leader of wellness.