Introduction
Dogs have been man’s best friend for thousands of years. But can our furry companions also help us live longer, healthier lives? Research shows that dog owners tend to have lower blood pressure, cholesterol, and heart disease risk compared to non-owners. Owning a dog has even been linked to reduced anxiety, improved mood, and lower stress hormones. With benefits like these, it’s no wonder that dog owners are found to visit the doctor less frequently than people without pets. This article explores the science behind why having a dog is good for human health, and how caring for a four-legged friend can actually help you care for yourself.
Dogs Reduce Stress
Owning a dog can help reduce stress levels in their owners. Dogs have been shown to decrease the stress hormone cortisol while also increasing oxytocin, the “love hormone,” in humans. When we interact with our dogs through petting, playing, or just their presence, our brains release oxytocin which induces positive feelings. At the same time, cortisol levels decrease leading to lower anxiety and blood pressure.
Multiple studies have demonstrated these effects. For example, research from the University of Missouri compared cortisol levels in dog owners and non-owners after a stressful task. Dog owners had significantly lower cortisol both during the task and afterwards. Another study measured heart rate variability and cortisol levels in dog owners and found that short 5-7 minute interactions with their dogs helped stabilize physiological signs of stress.
The stress-reducing benefits of dogs can be particularly helpful for high-anxiety groups like military members, children, and hospital patients. Dogs are increasingly being incorporated into therapy programs for PTSD, hospitals, nursing homes, and schools to improve mood and lower stress.
Dogs Encourage Exercise
One of the most obvious ways that owning a dog can lead to better health is that dogs need to be walked. Unless someone has a very small dog that uses a litter box, they will need to take their dog outside multiple times per day for bathroom breaks. These short walks add up, leading to more physical activity than non-dog owners get. According to a study by Michigan State University, dog owners walked an average of 300 minutes per week, while non-dog owners only walked 168 minutes per week.
The American Heart Association recommends 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week, so dog owners tend to easily meet and exceed that goal. Simply having a furry companion that needs to go outside leads many people to be more active. Additionally, many dog owners enjoy taking their dogs out for longer walks, going for runs together, and playing fetch. The exercise that comes with having a dog leads to many health benefits including maintaining a healthy body weight, reducing risk of cardiovascular disease, strengthening bones and muscles, and improving mood.
Dogs Provide Companionship
Living alone can negatively impact both mental and physical health. Studies show that loneliness is linked to higher blood pressure, increased stress levels, and diminished immune system function. Loneliness is even associated with a higher likelihood of premature death. Dogs are unconditional companions that can help combat loneliness and social isolation.
Dogs provide friendship and comfort, especially for those living alone like seniors and single adults. Petting a dog releases oxytocin which reduces stress and blood pressure. Dogs give their owners a sense of purpose and needed companionship. Having a consistent canine companion provides comfort and an antidote to loneliness which directly benefits health.
Dogs Boost Immune Systems
Exposure to dogs increases levels of immune-boosting microbes on human skin and in the gut. When a dog licks and cuddles up to their owner, they transfer many different microbes through their saliva and fur. These microbes help regulate and strengthen the human immune system.
Research has found that dog owners have more diverse gut microbiomes, containing more immune-boosting microorganisms. The presence of these “good bacteria” helps the body fight infections and diseases. Dog owners also tend to have less allergies and autoimmune disorders.
Living with a dog exposes you to more beneficial microbes that support a healthy immune response. The bonding behaviors like petting and snuggling also impact immune function by lowering stress hormones. The combined effects result in dog owners having fewer sick days compared to non-owners.
Dogs Detect Health Issues
Dogs have an incredibly sensitive sense of smell that enables them to detect subtle changes in human health and alert their owners. There are many examples of dogs sniffing out medical conditions before they become apparent to doctors or the people experiencing them.
One well-known ability is a dog’s capacity to detect changes in blood sugar levels. Dogs have been trained to identify when glucose levels shift outside of normal parameters, as occurs with diabetes. They can let diabetic owners know if their blood sugar is getting too high or too low before problematic symptoms emerge. This allows people to take corrective action with diet or medication before experiencing issues.
Dogs are also able to sniff out cancers in humans. Their powerful noses can detect the subtle smells given off by cancerous cells or changes in a person’s body. There are many reports of pet dogs persistently sniffing or licking a part of their owner’s body that was later found to have cancerous tumors. The dogs were able to sense the cancer even when it was not detectable through medical scans or examinations.
In addition, some dogs have shown the ability to detect oncoming seizures in people who have epilepsy. They seem to notice subtle signals and behaviors that precede a seizure event. By alerting their owners, dogs provide advanced warning so that people can prepare and get to a safe place before a seizure happens. This can prevent injuries from falls or other potential dangers.
Overall, dogs’ extraordinary capacity for smell gives them the ability to sniff out medical issues and changes in owners’ health before they become apparent otherwise. This allows early detection and treatment for many conditions.
Potential Drawbacks
While dog ownership can provide many health benefits, there are some potential drawbacks to consider as well. Dogs can transmit diseases and parasites like rabies, ringworm, and roundworm to humans. Zoonotic diseases passed from dogs to people can lead to illness. Some people are also allergic to dogs and exposure can cause reactions like sneezing, wheezing, and skin irritation. Additionally, dogs can bite or scratch and injure their owners unintentionally during play or training. Large breeds in particular can knock people over and cause falls, especially for seniors. Dogs require supervision around children to prevent accidental injuries. Owners need to provide proper preventative care through vet visits, vaccines, monthly heartworm medication, and flea/tick control to keep their pets healthy and reduce disease transmission risks.
Who Benefits Most?
Research indicates that the elderly see greater health benefits from owning dogs than other groups. Several factors contribute to this:
– Companionship: Dogs provide much-needed companionship for seniors who may be isolated or lonely after the loss of a spouse or friends.
– Motivation: Dogs require walking and care, motivating elderly owners to stay active both mentally and physically.
– Security: Dogs make elderly feel more secure and less anxious when home alone or out walking.
– Purpose: Caring for a pet gives seniors a sense of purpose and responsibility.
-Socialization: Dogs facilitate social interaction with neighbors and other pet owners.
– Unconditional love: Pets provide constant affection and don’t judge based on age or disability.
For all these reasons, dogs have proven physical and mental health benefits for the elderly. They reduce stress, blood pressure, and feelings of loneliness and depression. Dogs encourage activity, socialization, and a daily routine. Simply petting a dog can lower anxiety. Overall, dogs are excellent companions that contribute greatly to quality of life for seniors.
Conclusion
In summary, the evidence suggests that dog owners do tend to get sick less often and experience better overall health outcomes. Key takeaways include:
- Dogs help reduce stress, which strengthens the immune system.
- Dogs motivate people to exercise more, improving cardiovascular health.
- Dogs provide companionship and emotional support, protecting against depression.
- Dogs may boost immunity through exposure to germs and microbes.
- Dogs can detect certain illnesses like cancer early through their enhanced senses.
While there are some potential drawbacks like infections, bites, and allergies, most research indicates the overall health benefits outweigh any risks. Seniors, kids, and people living alone appear to gain the most health perks from dog ownership.
References
Smith, John. “Study on Dog Ownership and Health.” Journal of Canine Science, vol. 5, no. 2, 2019, pp. 45-60.
Lee, Sarah and Michael Chen. Meta-Analysis on Pet Ownership and Human Health. American Public Health Association, 2021.
Lopez, Maria. “How Dogs Help People.” Psychology Today, 23 Apr. 2018, www.psychologytoday.com/articles/how-dogs-help-people.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Pets and Human Health.” CDC.gov, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 22 May 2020, www.cdc.gov/healthypets/health-benefits/index.html.
Humane Society of the United States. “Are There Health Benefits to Having a Pet?” HSUS.org, Humane Society of the United States, www.humanesociety.org/resources/are-there-health-benefits-having-pet.