Want to get fitter, healthier and more emotionally resilient? Get a pet. A growing body of studies confirms the health-boosting power of furry, scaly or feathered friends

Pet owners are less likely to visit a doctor than those without a pet, says research reported in the British Medical Journal (BMJ). When you think about it, it’s easy to see why dog owners in particular may have the edge, constitutionally speaking ? regular ‘walkies’ are bound to have far-reaching benefits, surely? In fact, Australian research has found that dog owners tend to walk about 18 minutes longer each week than other people. And in the UK, 64 per cent of dog owners exercise their dogs between one and three hours a day.

However, it’s more than just regular exercise that bestows enhanced health on pet owners, say experts.

 
Professor Sam Ahmedzai, Head of the Academic Unit of Supportive Care at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, and former chair of the Society for Companion Animal Studies (SCAS, www.scas.org.uk), says: ‘There is now accumulating data from several small studies showing how human-pet interaction has a favourable impact on cardiac health factors as well as influencing the body’s own production of substances which boost the immune system, relieve pain and generate a sense of well-being.’

It’s the stress-releasing benefits of pets that impress many doctors and patients. Research from the University of New York in Buffalo found that people who have pets experience fewer physiological reactions to stressful situations when in the presence of their pet. This suggests that having an animal buddy has significant cardiovascular and behavioural benefits.

Other research in the BMJ concluded that pet ownership is associated with a reduced risk of heart disease, and a reduced risk of asthma and allergies in young children. Studies also indicate that children with pets are less likely to be off sick from school.

In fact, pet owners have lower triglyceride and cholesterol levels than non-owners, and also have higher year-on survival rates following coronary heart disease. A pet can even help you live longer; having an animal has been found to reduce heart attack mortality by three per cent.

It’s thought that it’s not just the healthy habits that having a pet encourages which protects your health, but that the support from pets may mirror some of the elements of human relationships known to contribute to health ? such as offering companionship, alleviating stress and enhancing quality of life.

Even fur-less friends may confer benefits. A study in the US-based Western Journal of Nursing Research found that looking at brightly coloured fish may restrict disruptive behaviour and improve the eating habits of people with Alzheimer’s disease.

Those who particularly benefit from pets are the elderly and children, according to Canadian research. Having a family pet helps boost children’s cognitive development, enhances their feelings of empathy, increases self-esteem and helps them become more nurturing adults.

You don’t need to have your own pooch to reap the benefits. Studies show that even ten minutes with a pet can significantly reduce your blood pressure. Besides, pet visits are used therapeutically to boost hospital patients’ morale and speed their recovery, suggesting that occasional pet sessions can be good for you.

One charity, the Children in Hospital and Animal Therapy Association (CHATA), found that animals can help patients get better faster. And another found that animal-assisted therapy can reduce loneliness of residents in long-term care facilities.

So why not get yourself a little dose of animal magic today? Anyone can tap into the healing power of pets.

Pet power

• Share your pet: for information about how to bring your dog or cat on hospital visits, contact Pets as Therapy on http://www.petsastherapy.org/ or call 0870 977 0003.
• Serious about wildlife? Sign up for a project with a conservation or animal-rescue project with http://www.gapyearforgrownups.co.uk/ (01892 701881). You can take on a hands-on role with exotic or endangered animals in centres as far afield as Zimbabwe or Bolivia from two weeks to a year.
• Afternoons to spare? Find out about volunteer opportunities in your area to work with animals. Initiatives include riding for the disabled, or Labrador Rescue Trusts or being a pets-to-vets driver, for example. Visit http://www.do-it.org.uk/ or contact your local Volunteer Centre.
• Find out about part-time or short-term volunteering opportunities, from a few hours a week, with the RSPCA on http://www.rspca.org.uk/ or call 0870 333 5999. Roles range from dog groomers to home visitors.
• Encourage a ‘bring your pet to work’ day. According to the American Humane Association, US companies that encourage dogs to come to work experience increased productivity and reduced absenteeism, as well as higher morale among employees.
• Try puppy fostering. If you don’t want the expense or responsibility of a full-time pet but can welcome a puppy into your home for three or four weeks, contact Hearing Dogs for Deaf People at http://www.hearingdogs.org.uk/ or call 01844 348105.