When parents consider getting a pet, many tend to look at the negatives, such as cleaning up after the animal, while others claim that living with animals is merely unsanitary at best. There has been much said about the ways that pets cause health hazards to people. From pregnant women emptying dirty cat litter, to allergens in pet dander, to dog bites, to eczema brought on by fur, pets take the blame for a host of health hazards.
However, there are also specific ways in which pets — and dogs in particular — improve our health. (And there is nothing quite like the unconditional love that a dog can bring to a family!)
Here are five definite instances in which dogs rescue us in the health department:
Exercise: It’s a no-brainer that when you have a dog, you just walk more than you would if you didn’t have one. The American Journal of Public Health and the American Journal of Preventive Medicine have both confirmed that “children with dogs spend more time doing moderate to vigorous activity than those without dogs, and adults with dogs walk on average almost twice as much as adults without dogs.”
Cardiovascular benefits: Besides the effects of exercise on cardiovascular health, owning dogs brings a sense of calm and peace that enhance a person’s cardiovascular condition over the long run. There is also a reduced risk of high blood pressure and cholesterol levels for dog owners. Plus, a study published in the American Journal of Cardiology reports that “male dog owners were less likely to die within one year after a heart attack than those who did not own a dog.”
Doctor visits: In general, people who own dogs go to the doctor less. In a study out of Australia, dog and cat owners made significantly less visits to the doctor than those who didn’t own pets.
Illness: When people are hospitalized for long periods of time, they benefit dramatically from visits with dogs trained in pet therapy, as well as visits from their very own pups at home. Luckily, more hospitals are realizing this, and with help from pet organizations, are creating programs in which sick children and adults can have hospital visits from their own pets. The results have been amazing.
Anxiety: There is perhaps nothing better than taking care of a dog, and giving and receiving the unconditional love that only a pup can bring to person who is worried or anxious. When my daughter was first diagnosed with an autoimmune disease at the age of 9, we adopted an adult chihuahua mix who had encountered a lifetime of suffering herself. Hayley had been abused and required a lot of attention and pampering. My daughter desperately needed something to take her mind off her ailments and there was no better remedy for her anxiety and panic attacks brought on by her disease than to care for this abused little dog. Five years later, they have helped each other very much to heal and retain a very special, loving relationship.
Danielle Sullivan, a mom of three, has worked as a writer and editor in the parenting world for more than 10 years. Sullivan also writes about pets and parenting for Disney’s Babble.com. Find her on Facebook and Twitter @DanniSullWriter, or on her blog, Just Write Mom.
