{"id":12907,"date":"2024-10-20T22:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-10-20T22:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/modernsciences.org\/staging\/4414\/?p=12907"},"modified":"2024-10-07T07:46:41","modified_gmt":"2024-10-07T07:46:41","slug":"is-owning-a-dog-good-for-your-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/modernsciences.org\/staging\/4414\/is-owning-a-dog-good-for-your-health\/","title":{"rendered":"Is owning a dog good for your health?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n \n
\n \n Pogodina Natalia\/Shutterstock<\/a><\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n\n Tania Signal<\/a>, CQUniversity Australia<\/a><\/em><\/span>\n\n

Australia loves dogs. We have one of the highest rates of pet ownership<\/a> in the world, and one in two households has at least one dog<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

But are they good for our health?<\/p>\n\n

Mental health is the second-most common reason<\/a> cited for getting a dog, after companionship. And many of us say<\/a> we \u201cfeel healthier\u201d for having a dog \u2013 and let them sleep in our bedroom. <\/p>\n\n

Here\u2019s what it means for our physical and mental health to share our homes (and doonas) with our canine companions. <\/p>\n\n

Are there physical health benefits to having a dog?<\/h2>\n\n

Having a dog is linked to lower risk of death over the long term. In 2019, a systematic review<\/a> gathered evidence published over 70 years, involving nearly four million individual medical cases. It found people who owned a dog had a 24% lower risk of dying from any cause compared to those who did not own a dog. <\/p>\n\n

\n \"A\n
\n Having a dog may help lower your blood pressure through more physical activity.<\/span>\n Barnabas Davoti\/Pexels<\/a><\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n\n

Dog ownership was linked to increased physical activity. This lowered blood pressure and helped reduce the risk of stroke and heart disease.<\/p>\n\n

The review found for those with previous heart-related medical issues (such as heart attack), living with a dog reduced their subsequent risk of dying by 35%, compared to people with the same history but no dog.<\/p>\n\n

Another recent UK study<\/a> found adult dog owners were almost four times as likely to meet daily physical activity targets as non-owners. Children in households with a dog were also more active and engaged in more unstructured play, compared to children whose family didn\u2019t have a dog.<\/p>\n\n

Exposure to dirt and microbes carried in from outdoors may also strengthen immune systems<\/a> and lead to less use of antibiotics in young children who grow up with dogs. <\/p>\n\n

\n \"A\n
\n Children in households with a dog were often more active.<\/span>\n Maryshot\/Shutterstock<\/a><\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n\n

Health risks<\/h2>\n\n

However, dogs can also pose risks to our physical health. One of the most common health issues for pet owners is allergies<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n

Dogs\u2019 saliva, urine and dander<\/a> (the skin cells they shed) can trigger allergic reactions resulting in a range of symptoms<\/a>, from itchy eyes and runny nose to breathing difficulties.<\/p>\n\n

A recent meta-analysis<\/a> pooled data from nearly two million children. Findings suggested early exposure to dogs may increase the risk of developing asthma (although not quite as much as having a cat does). The child\u2019s age, how much contact they have with the dog and their individual risk all play a part.<\/p>\n\n

Slips, trips and falls are another risk \u2013 more people<\/a> fall over due to dogs than cats.<\/p>\n\n

Having a dog can also expose you to bites and scratches<\/a> which may become infected and pose a risk for those with compromised immune systems. And they can introduce zoonotic diseases into your home, including ring worm<\/a> and Campylobacter<\/a>, a disease that causes diarrhoea. <\/p>\n\n

For those sharing the bed<\/a> there is an elevated the risk of allergies and picking up ringworm. It may result in lost sleep, as dogs move around at night. <\/p>\n\n

On the other hand some owners report feeling more secure while co-sleeping with their dogs<\/a>, with the emotional benefit outweighing the possibility of sleep disturbance or waking up with flea bites.<\/p>\n\n

Proper veterinary care and hygiene practices are essential to minimise these risks.<\/p>\n\n

\n \"A\n
\n Many of us don\u2019t just share a home with a dog \u2013 we let them sleep in our beds.<\/span>\n Claudia Ma\u00f1as\/Unsplash<\/a><\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n\n

What about mental health?<\/h2>\n\n

Many people know the benefits of having a dog are not only physical. <\/p>\n\n

As companions, dogs can provide significant emotional support helping to alleviate symptoms of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress<\/a>. Their presence may offer comfort and a sense of purpose to individuals facing mental health challenges. <\/p>\n\n

Loneliness is a significant<\/a> and growing<\/a> public health issue in Australia. <\/p>\n\n

In the dog park and your neighbourhood, dogs can make it easier<\/a> to strike up conversations with strangers and make new friends. These social interactions can help build a sense of community belonging<\/a> and reduce feelings of social isolation<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n

For older adults<\/a>, dog walking can be a valuable loneliness intervention that encourages social interaction with neighbours, while also combating declining physical activity. <\/p>\n\n

However, if you\u2019re experiencing chronic loneliness, it may be hard to engage with other people<\/a> during walks. An Australian study<\/a> found simply getting a dog was linked to decreased loneliness. People reported an improved mood \u2013 possibly due to the benefits of strengthening bonds with their dog. <\/p>\n\n

\n \"Three\n
\n Walking a dog can make it easier to talk to people in your neighbourhood.<\/span>\n KPegg\/Shutterstock<\/a><\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n\n

What are the drawbacks?<\/h2>\n\n

While dogs can bring immense joy and numerous health benefits, there are also downsides and challenges. The responsibility of caring for a dog, especially one with behavioural issues or health problems, can be overwhelming<\/a> and create financial stress.<\/p>\n\n

Dogs have shorter lifespans than humans, and the loss of a beloved companion<\/a> can lead to depression or exacerbate existing mental health conditions.<\/p>\n\n

Lifestyle compatibility and housing conditions<\/a> also play a significant role in whether having a dog is a good fit. <\/p>\n\n

The so-called pet effect<\/a> suggests that pets, often dogs, improve human physical and mental health in all situations and for all people. The reality is more nuanced. For some, having a pet may be more stressful than beneficial. <\/p>\n\n

Importantly, the animals that share our homes are not just \u201ctools\u201d for human health. Owners and dogs can mutually benefit when the welfare and wellbeing of both are maintained.\"The<\/p>\n\n

Tania Signal<\/a>, Professor of Psychology, School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, CQUniversity Australia<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n\n

This article is republished from The Conversation<\/a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Pogodina Natalia\/Shutterstock Tania Signal, CQUniversity Australia Australia loves dogs. We have one of the highest rates of pet…\n","protected":false},"author":978,"featured_media":12909,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/c\/c3\/Canis_lupus_familiaris_-_Flickr_-_aspidoscelis.jpg\/2560px-Canis_lupus_familiaris_-_Flickr_-_aspidoscelis.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[12,11],"tags":[233,186,474],"class_list":{"0":"post-12907","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-health-and-body","8":"category-nature","9":"tag-dog","10":"tag-pet","11":"tag-the-conversation","12":"cs-entry","13":"cs-video-wrap"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/modernsciences.org\/staging\/4414\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12907","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/modernsciences.org\/staging\/4414\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/modernsciences.org\/staging\/4414\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/modernsciences.org\/staging\/4414\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/978"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/modernsciences.org\/staging\/4414\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12907"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/modernsciences.org\/staging\/4414\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12907\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12908,"href":"https:\/\/modernsciences.org\/staging\/4414\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12907\/revisions\/12908"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/modernsciences.org\/staging\/4414\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12909"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/modernsciences.org\/staging\/4414\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12907"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/modernsciences.org\/staging\/4414\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12907"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/modernsciences.org\/staging\/4414\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12907"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}