4 Best Pets for Your Health

Often times owning a pet can be a good thing and bring lots of joy to your life while other times it can be a health nightmare, especially for allergy sufferers.

However, there are some health benefits to having furry friends in your life.

The folks at Health.com have put together a list of the top four healthiest pets you can own and why these are the best for you.

1. Dogs - Pooches are number one because people with dogs are 34% more likely to reach the recommended guidelines for exercise. Additionally, studies have found that just petting a dog can be a great stress reliever.
2. Cats - Just like dogs, petting them relieves stress. And a recent study found that people who'd never owned cats had a 40% higher chance of dying from a heart attack.
3. Fish - I always felt more relaxed when I had a fish because I would spend a few minutes a day mindless watching him swim. And the science proves that doing so can relieve stress. One study had people stare at a fish tank for 20 minutes before they went to the dentist, and it relieved stress just as well as hypnotherapy.
4. Horses - A study last year found that kids who were just around horses were less stressed out. You also use a lot of different muscles when you ride a horse like your quads, hamstrings and core.