Pet Owners Are a Healthy Breed

Though owning a pet doesn't make you immune to illness, pet owners are, on the whole, healthier than those who don't own pets. Study after study shows that people with pets have fewer minor health problems, require fewer visits to the doctor and less medication, and have fewer risk factors for cardiovascular problems.

If you own an energetic puppy, it's almost impossible not to get adequate exercise. If you have a loyal and protective dog, you're probably not suffering through sleepless nights. And if a faithful cat is constantly rubbing up against your legs or purring contentedly in your lap, it's hard to feel lonely.

Interacting with animals — holding them, petting them, brushing their fur, scratching their bellies — produces measurable, positive physiological responses in humans. In one study, researchers found that volunteers who talked to and petted their dogs had more normal blood pressures than volunteers who read aloud or rested quietly.

Get a Pet and Call Me in the Morning

The health benefits of owning a pet are so great that I sometimes even prescribe them to my patients. Pets are particularly therapeutic for older people, especially those who live alone and are less likely to exercise regularly, eat properly, and get the social interaction that is so important to mental health and physical well-being. An affectionate dog or cat provides companionship, love, and a sense of security. As German playwright Fritz von Unruh wrote, “The dog is the only being that loves you more than you love yourself.”

But it's not just the affection animals give that makes them so therapeutic. It's also the affection and care they require. Pets have to be fed, watered, groomed, and nurtured. When patients resist my advice to acquire a dog or cat, claiming that owning a pet is too much responsibility, I tell them that this is precisely the point. Owning an animal gives you a reason for getting out of bed in the morning, and taking care of its needs helps keep your mind off your own troubles. Having a furry companion in the house provides a sense of structure to your day and meaning to your life.

Pets Help Mend Hearts and Minds

Some of the most fascinating research on pets involves the effects that interacting with animals has on those with compromised health. There is also growing interest in the important role animals can play in helping patients cope with or recover from serious illness.

For instance, pets can support and speed up physical therapy. A person who resists encouragement to exercise a weak arm will spontaneously reach out to pet a visiting dog. Animal-assisted therapy, which involves acts as simple as stroking a cat and as complex as playing catch with a trained dog, draws upon the natural human-animal bond to provide sensory stimulation to patients with limited mobility.

Numerous studies have also found that people with impaired cognitive function are less agitated and smile, laugh, and talk more when a therapy dog is present. In addition, working (and playing) with animals helps boost mood and can even improve self-esteem.

Do Your Homework

If you are considering pet ownership, do a little research. Whether you live in a big house with a large backyard or a tiny apartment with a “no dogs allowed” policy, you are sure to find a pet that suits your needs and lifestyle. Check your library or bookstore for materials on choosing a pet, or visit the Internet for a wealth of free information on the selection, care, and feeding of pets as varied as iguanas, chinchillas, cockatoos, and peke-a-poos. Whatever pet you choose, you'll have a friend for life.

Yours in health, Julian Whitaker, MD (from DrWhitaker.com e-mail Health Update, 3/23/06)