Does being a pet owner benefit a person’s health?

Most U.S. households have at least one companion animal. People become pet owners for a variety of reasons. What many people do not realize is that there are many health benefits of owning a pet beyond the enjoyment and affection from their animal.

Pets can decrease an owner's:

• Blood pressure
• Cholesterol levels
• Triglyceride levels
• Feelings of loneliness
• Stress levels.

Pets can increase an owner's:

• Mood levels
• Opportunities for exercise and outdoor activities
• Opportunities for socialization.

Relaxation, meditation and stress management have become recognized therapies for attempting to reduce blood pressure before pharmacological methods are prescribed for cardiovascular diseases. Since psychological factors can elicit strong and immediate responses from the cardiovascular system, it seems reasonable that pets, who provide faithful companionship to many people, might promote greater psychosocial stability for their owners, and thus a measure of protection from heart disease.

Recent research shows that people who had to perform stressful tasks experienced less stress when their pets were with them than when a supportive friend or spouse was present.

Because dogs need to be walked, dog owners do spend more time walking than non-pet owners. Walking for exercise is good for overall health, as well as stress relief.

While owning pets comes with a lot of health benefits, pets can sometimes carry harmful germs that can make people sick even when the animal appears perfectly healthy. Diseases that spread between pets and humans are called zoonotic diseases and some people are more at risk than others.

People at a higher risk of contracting zoonotic diseases include:

• Children 5 years of age and younger
• Individuals with weakened immune systems
• People 65 years of age and older
• Pregnant women

Before adopting a new pet, do some research to ensure you choose one that is right for you.

Resources

American Veterinary Medical Association
The Humane Society of the United States
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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