Ok we’re all dog lovers here so no need to oversell our readers on how amazing it is to have dogs. As any loving fur parent will tell you, a home without Fido is really not a home at all. None of us can imagine coming home without our fur pups running to greet us and to shower us with love and affection. Indeed, the mental and emotional benefits of dog parenting are well documented and enjoyed by people all over the world. However, did you know that having dogs in your home can benefit your family’s physical health as well?
In the Womb
Researchers in the past few years have discovered remarkable benefits to babies born to women who spent time with dogs while pregnant. Such benefits include babies having less chance of developing eczema as infants as well as a decreased risk of allergies and even obesity. How is it that a dog can affect a fetus so profoundly? The answer lies in two types of gut bacteria Ruminococcus and Oscillospira, which dogs carry on their body and are exposed to the fetus through the mother when she touches and cuddles her pup. Higher levels of Ruminococcus are associated with decreased chances of developing allergies, while more Oscillospira is associated with greater body leanness. In addition, pregnant women with dogs have a lesser chance of transmitting Group B streptococcus bacteria to their newborn thus reducing the risk of newborn pneumonia. So go ahead, Mama, hug your fur baby, and benefit your human baby as well!
Children
As your baby grows, so do the health benefits of having canine siblings. The mental and emotional benefits for children with pets are clear. Briefly, children with dogs learn to develop empathy and responsibility, are more social and have greater self-confidence. The physical health benefits are just as important. Children raised with dogs in the house have fewer allergies, which is due to the gut microbes, mentioned above, that have a positive effect even after birth. These microbes are especially important for those babies born through C-section and so were not exposed to the microbes in the birth canal. C-section babies actually have an increased risk of becoming obese, and researchers now assert that having a dog in the house could mitigate this risk. In addition, scientists noted that children with canine brothers or sisters develop fewer respiratory infections, as they have developed a more robust immune response from exposure to their dogs, especially from an early age. Finally, children with dogs tend to be more physically active, establishing habits that will be vital for long term health and wellness. That said, the next time your little one says, “pleeeeeeese mom can we get a dog,” say yes and quickly!
Adults
As fascinating as the physical benefits of dog ownership for infants and children is, perhaps the research on the physical benefits for adults is even more provocative. Overall dog owners have a 24 percent reduced risk of death from any cause and a 33 percent reduced risk for cardiac patients. Researchers discovered that dog-owning patients recovering from heart attacks were less likely to die than those living alone. Simply petting your pup can lower your blood pressure and your stress levels in comparison to other calming activities. Studies compared reading for 15 minutes and petting a dog for the same time and noted that those engaging with the dogs lowered their blood pressure more.
In addition, playing with your pup increases levels of oxytocin and dopamine, two hormones that positively affect physical and mental well-being. Finally, as many of us know, taking care of a dog is hard work, which can keep us active as we get older.
As all dog lovers know, having fur babies in the home enriches our lives in countless ways. Loving our fur babies keeps loneliness at bay while guaranteeing there will be plenty of love and laughs in the home. However, as science has shown, the benefits of having a loving dog go well beyond the social and include physical benefits researchers are just beginning to understand. So, give your pup an extra hug and thank him for helping to keep you and your family healthy!
