The benefits of pets for human health

Animals play an important role in many people’s lives. In addition to seeing-eye dogs and dogs that can
be trained to detect seizures, animals can also be used in occupational therapy, speech therapy, or
physical rehabilitation to help patients recover. Aside from these designated therapeutic roles, animals
are also valued as companions, which can certainly affect the quality of our lives. Is that companionship
beneficial to our health?

The better we understand the human-animal bond, the more we can use it to improve people’s
lives. This article summarizes what is known and not known about how animals help improve
the health and well-being of people, and what the implications might be for helping people who
don’t have pets of their own. Over 71 million American households (62%) have a pet, and most
people think of their pets as members of the family .Some research studies have found that
people who have a pet have healthier hearts, stay home sick less often, make fewer visits to the
doctor, get more exercise, and are less depressed. Pets may also have a significant impact on
allergies, asthma, social support, and social interactions with other people.

Impact on Physical Health

Companion animals may improve heart health by lowering blood pressure and regulating the
heart rate during stressful situations. In a 2002 study, researchers measured changes in heart rate
and blood pressure among people who had a dog or cat, compared to those who did not, when
participants were under stress (performing a timed math task). People with a dog or cat had
lower resting heart rates and blood pressure measures at the beginning of the experiment than
non-pet owners. People with a dog or cat were also less likely to have spikes in heart rates and
blood pressure while performing the math task, and their heart rates and blood pressure returned
to normal more quickly. They also made fewer errors in their math when their pet was present in
the room. All these findings indicated that having a dog or cat lowered the risk of heart disease,
as well as lowering stress so that performance improved.

A similar study found that having your dog in the room lowered blood pressure better than taking
a popular type of blood pressure medication (ACE inhibitor) when you are under stress. Other
research has indicated that the simple act of stroking a pet can help lower blood pressure and
cholesterol.

Children’s exposure to companion animals may also ease anxiety. For example, one study
measured blood pressure, heart rate, and behavioral distress in healthy children aged 3 to 6 at two
different doctor visits for routine physicals. At one visit, a dog (unrelated to the child) was
present in the room and at the other visit the dog was absent. When the dog was present, children
had lower blood pressure measures, lower heart rates, and less behavioral distress. However,
research on the health benefits of child and animal interaction is still limited. Further research is
needed on how pets influence child development and specific health outcomes.

Findings suggest that the social support a pet provides can make a person feel more relaxed and
decrease stress. Social support from friends and family can have similar benefits, but
interpersonal relationships often cause stress as well, whereas pets may be less likely to cause
stress. The social support provided by a pet might also encourage more social interactions with
people, reducing feelings of isolation or loneliness. For example, walking with a dog has been
found to increase social interaction, especially with strangers, compared to walking without a
dog.

Among elderly people, pet ownership might also be an important source of social support that
enhances well-being. In one study, elderly individuals that had a dog or cat were better able to
perform certain physical activities deemed “activities of daily living,” such as the ability to climb
stairs; bend, kneel, or stoop; take medication; prepare meals; and bathe and dress oneself. There
were not significant differences between dog and cat owners in their abilities to perform these
activities. Neither the length of time of having a dog or cat nor the level of attachment to the
animal influenced performance abilities. Companion animals did not seem to have an impact on
psychological health but researchers suggested that a care-taking role may give older individuals
a sense of responsibility and purpose that contributes to their overall well-being

A group of researchers from Pune collected pet information (dog, cat, horse, fish, bird or other
pet ownership) from over 9,000 people at two different times (2010 and 2016). The survey
included a number of health, economic, and labor issues, so that respondents would not realize
the researchers’ interest in a link between pets and health. Researchers found that people who
said they had a pet in both 2010 and 2016 had the fewest doctor visits, followed by people who
had acquired a pet by 2001; the group of people who did not have a pet at either time had the
highest number of doctor visits .Similarly, a study of women in China found that those who were
dog owners had fewer doctor visits, took fewer days off sick from work, and exercised more
often than non-dog owners.

Research on allergies and asthma is mixed. Some studies show that having a cat might increase
allergen sensitivity, while others show it might protect against cat allergies. Having a dog might
not influence or might protect against specific dog allergies. A 2013 study found that mice were
protected against allergies when they were exposed to dust that came from homes with dogs. The
researchers discovered that the protective effect was due to a certain type of gut bacteria that is
often present in people with dogs. More research is needed on the connection between allergies,
asthma, and pets, but it is possible that the impact of having pets on allergies may depend on the
age of the person at the time they are exposed to an animal as well as the type of pet. For
example, 6 and 7 year old children who lived with a bird during their first year of life were more
likely to have respiratory symptoms like wheezing compared to children who did not have a bird
in the home as an infant. Likewise, researchers say that the timing of when a pet is in the family
is also important. Children with dogs or cats in their home during the first year of life are less
likely to develop allergies in childhood.

As is true with any relationship, some human-pet relationships are likely to be more rewarding
than others. Some people are more attached to their pets than others and those feelings could
influence the impact of the pet on the person’s health. Other factors such as gender and marital
status may play a role. For example, one study found that dog ownership was associated with
lower rates of depression among women, but not men, and among single individuals but not
married people. So, while pet ownership might have a positive impact on well-being for some
people, it doesn’t affect everyone the same way.

Children’s Emotional Development

When a child has no brothers or sisters, research shows that pets help children develop greater
empathy, higher self-esteem, and increased participation in social and physical activities. 1

The Challenges of Measuring the Positive Impact of Pets

The effect of human-animal interaction on health is not fully understood because it is difficult to
study. Most evidence on the benefits of having a pet comes from surveys of current health, but
that means it is impossible to know if a person is in good health because she has a pet or if he is
more likely to get a pet because he is in good health. Someone whose health is poor may decide
he does not have the time or energy to care for a pet. The study described above suggests that
having a pet for a longer period of time is more beneficial to your health; but it is also possible
that people with pets have less time to spare to go to the doctor or are less concerned about their
own health, especially minor ailments.
In addition, people who love their pets are likely to want to let researchers know that their pets
help improve their lives. This could bias the study results.

Another issue is how the word “pet” is defined. Does having a goldfish confer the same health
benefits as having a golden retriever? Most pet studies were of people who had a dog or a cat,
making it difficult to draw conclusions about health benefits of birds, lizards, fish, or other pets.
How much time the person spends with his or her pet could be strongly influenced by the type of
pet and in turn could influence the health benefits of having a pet.

Temporary Companions

Researchers have also used animals to temporarily provide companionship to children with
health or mental health problems, or elderly people who may not have the energy or resources
for a live-in pet. While these studies do not always have consistent results, some positive
findings of interacting with a therapy dog include reduced levels of pain and anxiety among
hospitalized children and adults, as well as increased focus and interaction among children with
autism and other developmental disorders. In nursing home settings, interaction with visiting
dogs has led to more social behaviors, more interaction among residents, and less loneliness.

While research on animal-assisted interaction and therapy is not always consistent and is often
done with small groups of participants, there is some evidence that interaction with a companion
animal even for a short time might have a range of benefits

The Bottom Line

The research findings are encouraging, so it makes sense to conduct more studies on how
human-animal interaction influences our health. We don’t yet know precisely what types of
animals influence what types of health issues (physical, mental, and social well-being) and what
characteristics about human-animal interaction are most important. People who have pets know
that there are many benefits to having a companion animal, but we do not yet know under what
circumstances those benefits are most likely. If research shows specific health benefits under
specific circumstances, that information can be used to change policies in ways that benefit even
more adults and children, by influencing rules and regulations for schools, health or assisted
living facilities, residential treatment centers, and other places where people’s exposure to
animals is sometimes discouraged but could potentially be encouraged.
Smart Home Gadgets for Your Pets

Our pets are beloved family members, but they can also be mysteries: We leave them alone all
day, or with sitters for vacations. We have to guess how our pets feel and hope nothing’s wrong.
We love them, but we often don’t understand them. Now a new batch of smart gadgets is trying
to bridge that gap, using data gathering to make it easier than ever to know how your best friend
feels and what he does all day. Meanwhile, smart toys and other gadgets are making their day -
and ours - a lot more fun.

Many common smart home products like Nest are already useful for pet owners, but true animal
lovers will want to invest in these pet-centric gadgets:

Whistle Activity Monitor- Does Fluffy need another round of fetch? Whistle is a lightweight tracker that
clips to your dog’s collar to monitor his daily activity so you can make sure he is keeping healthy and
active, even when you’re not around.

Petnet- The Petnet smart feeder calculates the exact amount of food your cat or dog needs for optimum
health, recommends the ideal food, and then distributes it to your pet automatically. Use your smart
phone to manage how much they eat and when, and to keep track of their food intake. A food delivery
plan will even deliver Petnet’s recommended blend right to your door.
 iFetch Even the most devoted dog owner sometimes needs a break, so when you’re tired of
pitching that soggy tennis ball, let iFetch do it for you. When a human or dog drops a ball into
iFetch’s funnel, it shoots it back out 10, 20, or 30 feet.

Passport Pet Access Smart System Doo- Forget that drafty and unsafe plastic flap dog door
you’re used to - this newer, smarter version senses a passport key attached to your dog or cat’s
collar and won’t open for anyone or anything else.

Petchatz- Does your pet get anxious when you travel? If so, Petchatz might be just the thing:
it’s a video phone that lets your pet not only see and hear you but also smell you! You can even
remotely dispense a treat, just to let her know you’re thinking of her when you’re gone.

Tagg Tracker- Like the other wearables featured here, Tagg monitors your dog’s health and
fitness - but what’s more, its GPS capabilities lets you know where your buddy is at all times,
which can be indispensable if he ever gets lost.
Fitbark- Like a FitBit for Fido, FitBark monitors your dog’s activity, awake or asleep, and
converts into easy-to-track BarkPoints that tell you whether your dog is in peak condition and
suggests interventions that can improve his life and yours.
Voyce- Another collar clip tracker, Voyce collects and reports on a wide range of data about
your dog or cat including their resting heart and respiration rates, calories burned, distance
traveled, and sleep patterns - all data you can pass on to your pet, too.
ChirpCamera- Why should dogs have all the fun? This selfie-cam is cat-ready - it makes a little
chirping sound to get your cat’s attention, then snaps a photo and sends it to you, guaranteed to
brighten up your work day. (And yes, it will work for dogs, too.) Currently accepting beta
testers.