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Pets are Good for Your Health

Pets are Good for Your Health
by
May 29, 2025
in Humane Education Column
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By: Judy Lore, AVHS Volunteer columnist

Pets are Good for Your Health.

Besides, dogs and cats are just darned cute to have around. My dogs are the reason I walk as much as I do on a regular schedule. They let me know when they want to walk and run and I usually heed their call.

Simply being in the presence of a pet can provide health benefits for us. Petting a dog can decrease the stress hormone cortisol which, in turn, helps decrease blood pressure and can help us feel less stressed. (Except when my dogs have something in their mouth they should definitely not have!)

Most pets adhere to a time-based routine. They know when it’s time to eat, time to go potty and time to go to bed. They often determine when we get up in the morning – and sometimes when to go to bed in the evening. Their eating times are especially set in stone it seems. I get a “stand up and stare at me” when dinner time rolls around. They keep us in a routine which can be good for us and give us a physical and mental boost.

Animals, particularly dogs and cats, are part of our families and faithful companions. If you happen to live alone, just having a pet can provide company and help you to not feel so isolated. Socially, pets provide a connection to others which is mentally helpful for us. Walking your pet often includes social interaction with others who ask if they can pet your dog and leads to questions and conversation, albeit short, but meaningful and social. I ask if I can pet almost every dog I encounter and the answer is usually yes. Then I ask the name and then a brief conversation follows.

Dogs, more so than cats, tend to get us moving. Moving is certainly beneficial for our overall health. According to the information in an article from the Cleveland Clinic, we need at least 150 minutes of aerobic physical activity per week for a good brain-healthy lifestyle. If you enjoy walking and hiking or anything active, you’ll have your best buddy with you while benefiting your overall health.

Maybe you don’t have a dog or cat, but have another animal. Studies are inconclusive about whether the health benefits mentioned above are true of, for example, having goldfish or birds or other animals. Most studies focus on dog and cat owners. A German study conducted in 1996 and again in 2001 found that people with pets had fewer doctor visits than those without a pet. I suppose one could conclude based on those studies that having a pet is beneficial to your health.

A book of interest that delves into how pets promote their owners’ healthy lives is The Healing Power of Pets by Dr. Marty Becker, called by some of his fans America’s Veterinarian. He’s the author of many books including the popular Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul. In his 2023 book, Becker shows how pets can prevent, detect, treat, and sometimes even cure a variety of illnesses. Lots of heart-warming stories about how pets have enriched and even saved their owners’ lives are included. It’s a relatively short book of 270 pages and I will add it to my books-to-read list. Might be you’ll want to read it. Go for it!

 

 

 

 

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