Pets are more than just cuddly companions — research continues to show that they bring real health benefits to their owners.
Studies have shown that:
- Pet owners are less likely to suffer from depression than those without pets.
- One study even found that when people with borderline hypertension adopted dogs from a shelter, their blood pressure declined significantly within five months.
- Playing with a dog, cat, or other pet can elevate levels of serotonin and dopamine, which calm and relax.
- Pet owners have lower triglyceride and cholesterol levels than those without pets.
- Heart attack patients with pets survive longer than those without.
- Pet owners over age 65 make 30 percent fewer visits to their doctors than those without pets.
The study of 2,000 adults found that those with a dog have 69 per cent more 'meaningful' interactions and opportunities for social interaction.
Pets connect you to the community. On walks you meet neighbours and other dog walkers. Also can help you create friendships and social support.
People who didn't own a dog were sedentary for about 30 more minutes a day on average than those who walked their dogs.
One of the reasons for these therapeutic effects is that pets fulfil the basic human need for touch. Stroking, hugging, or otherwise touching a loving animal can rapidly calm and relax you when you’re stressed or anxious.
Dogs, for example, are able to understand many of the words we use, but they’re even better at interpreting our tone of voice, body language, and gestures. And like any good human friend, a loyal dog will look into your eyes to measure your emotional state and try to understand what you’re thinking and feeling.
The most obvious benefits to pet ownership are love and companionship. We feel best when we feel connected to another, because that’s how we’ve evolved. And with pets, that connection is especially strong because of the unconditional love we receive from them.
