Bringing a pet into your home is about more than just gaining a furry, scaly, or feathered friend; it’s often about welcoming a new member into your family. The joy of a wagging tail greeting you at the door or the gentle purr of a cat curled up on your lap is undeniable. But beyond companionship, could pets actually be good for your health? Research suggests the answer is a resounding yes. The unconditional love offered by a pet can bring a wealth of benefits, from reducing stress to improving cardiovascular health and even aiding in children’s emotional and social development.
Approximately 68% of households in the United States include a pet, highlighting just how integral animals are to our lives. But the question remains: who truly benefits from these human-animal interactions, and what kinds of pets offer the most significant health advantages?
For over a decade, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has collaborated with the WALTHAM Centre for Pet Nutrition, part of Mars Corporation, to delve into these very questions. Through funded research studies, scientists are exploring the diverse physical and mental health benefits we can derive from various animals, ranging from the simple goldfish to more interactive companions like guinea pigs, dogs, and cats.
The Science Behind Pets and Wellbeing
The field of human-animal interaction research is still evolving, but numerous studies point towards compelling positive health outcomes. While some findings are preliminary, the overall trend is encouraging.
Studies have indicated that interacting with pets can effectively lower levels of cortisol, the hormone associated with stress, and contribute to decreased blood pressure. Beyond the physiological, pets can play a significant role in combating loneliness, fostering feelings of social support, and elevating mood. The NIH/Mars Partnership is at the forefront of this exploration, funding diverse research projects to understand the intricate dynamics of our relationships with animals. A key area of focus is how animals impact child development, particularly for children navigating conditions like autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and other developmental challenges.
Alt text: Diverse group of people happily interacting with their pets including a dog, cat, bird, rabbit and fish, representing the variety of human-animal bonds.
Dr. Layla Esposito, who leads NIH’s Human-Animal Interaction Research Program, emphasizes the nuanced nature of pet benefits. “There’s no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to how a pet can assist someone with a specific condition,” she explains. “If your goal is to boost physical activity, a dog might be the perfect companion, requiring daily walks and increasing your exercise levels. Alternatively, if stress reduction is your aim, the simple act of watching fish swim can induce a sense of calm. The ideal pet and its benefits are highly individual.”
To gain a broader understanding, NIH is sponsoring large-scale surveys to catalog the types of pets people live with and analyze how these relationships correlate with overall health and wellbeing. Dr. James Griffin, a child development expert at NIH, highlights the importance of the emotional connection: “We are striving to understand the subjective quality of the bond people share with their animals—that deep connection—and how it translates into tangible health benefits.”
Mental Health Perks of Pet Ownership
Pets excel at providing comfort and unwavering support, particularly evident in therapy dogs. These specially trained canines are often brought into environments like hospitals and nursing homes to alleviate stress and anxiety in patients.
Dr. Ann Berger, a physician and researcher at the NIH Clinical Center, notes the unique presence of dogs. “Dogs are incredibly present. They possess an innate ability to sense when someone is struggling and offer comfort and affection,” she states. “Their attention is completely focused on the person in need.”
Dr. Berger applies mindfulness techniques to help individuals with cancer and terminal illnesses manage stress and pain. She observes a natural connection between mindfulness and animal companionship. “Mindfulness is built on pillars of attention, intention, compassion, and awareness,” Berger explains. “Animals embody these qualities inherently. Humans often need to learn and cultivate them, but animals express them naturally.”
However, the integration of animals into healthcare settings requires careful consideration of safety. Researchers are actively studying the potential risks of germ transmission in hospitals. Ongoing studies, such as one examining dog visits to children with cancer, involve rigorous testing to ensure safety and minimize potential health risks.
Physical Health Gains from Pets
Beyond mental wellbeing, pets can also encourage healthier lifestyles. Dog ownership, for example, naturally promotes increased physical activity through regular walks and playtime, contributing to cardiovascular health.
Furthermore, a fascinating study revealed unexpected benefits for teenagers managing type 1 diabetes. Researchers assigned a group of teens with diabetes to care for a pet fish, requiring them to feed the fish and maintain the tank twice daily, along with weekly water changes. This pet care routine was integrated with regular blood glucose monitoring. The study found that the teens who cared for fish demonstrated greater consistency in checking their blood glucose levels compared to a control group. This highlights how the responsibility of pet care can instill beneficial routines that translate to improved self-care and health management.
How Pets Can Help Children
Pets offer unique advantages for children, contributing to their social and emotional development. One study investigated the impact of therapy dogs on children with ADHD. Dividing children with ADHD into two groups for 12-week therapy sessions, one group read to a therapy dog weekly for 30 minutes, while the other read to dog-like puppets. The results were striking: children who read to real dogs displayed improved social skills, demonstrating increased sharing, cooperation, and volunteering, alongside fewer behavioral issues.
Alt text: Young child with ADHD engaged in reading a book aloud to a calm and attentive golden retriever therapy dog as part of a study on improving social skills.
Another study explored the effects of guinea pigs on children with autism spectrum disorder in a classroom setting. When children engaged in supervised playtime with guinea pigs for just 10 minutes, their anxiety levels decreased. They also exhibited improved social interactions and greater engagement with their peers. Researchers believe that the unconditional acceptance offered by the guinea pigs created a comforting and calming environment for the children, facilitating social connections.
“Animals can act as a social bridge, fostering interactions,” Griffin explains. He and other researchers are continuing to investigate these effects to better understand who can benefit most from animal interactions and in what ways.
Important Considerations: Responsible Pet Ownership
While the benefits of pet ownership are compelling, it’s crucial to acknowledge that pet ownership is a significant responsibility. Understanding how to properly care for, feed, and interact with an animal is paramount. NIH/Mars-funded studies also consider the wellbeing of the animals in these interactions.
It’s important to remember that animals, like humans, can experience stress and fatigue. Children, in particular, need to learn to recognize signs of stress in their pets and understand when to give them space. Animal bites, especially from dogs, pose a serious risk, particularly for young children who may not grasp appropriate boundaries when interacting with animals.
“Dog bite prevention is a critical consideration for parents, especially with young children who may not always understand safe interactions with a dog,” Esposito cautions.
Research into the multifaceted health effects of pet ownership is ongoing. “Our aim is to determine what works, what doesn’t, and what constitutes safe interactions for both humans and animals,” Esposito concludes. While not every home or lifestyle is suited for pet ownership, for many, the bond with a pet offers a powerful pathway to enhanced health and wellbeing.
