How a hound can improve your health

Lisa Roberts | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted December 5, 2006

We love our pets. Whether they love us back is certainly arguable, but the good we reap from their companionship goes beyond the anecdotal.

Research has shown that myriad health benefits -- both mental and physical -- come along with contact with pets such as cats, dogs and birds, says Dr. Francois Martin of Washington State University's People-Pet Partnership program.

Just stroking a pet does good. A University of Maryland study that found that when dog owners stroked or talked to their pet, the owners' blood pressure fell to levels lower than what was recorded when they were resting. And in their book Between Pets and People (Purdue University Press), authors Aaron Katcher and Alan Beck note, "When petting animals, a person's face changes: the lines of tension smooth out; the smile becomes less forced, more relaxed and open; the voice becomes softer, slower and slightly higher in pitch than normal. . . ."

A canine bonus

People with dogs are more apt to be active, which can reduce stress, lower blood pressure, prevent heart disease and aid in the treatment of depression. There is also evidence that interaction with pets promotes the secretion of ocytocin, a bonding "feel-good" hormone that causes a "more-relaxed, general feeling of well-being," Martin says.

Seniors especially benefit from the bond. "We need to be needed, especially as we age," says Dr. Robert Hess of Winter Park Veterinary Hospital. "We need somebody that cares about us, that needs us to be there. Your dog is always there to say hello. It doesn't care if you smell or what your hair looks like."

Valerie Campbell of Kissimmee, a licensed mental-health counselor and special-education teacher, has seen the age-old bond between humans and canines benefit many of her clients since integrating therapy dogs into her practice. "Dogs are an instant ice-breaker," she says. "They [patients] immediately start talking. It's a way to get people talking, but at the same time, it does seem to relax them, particularly for people who are talking about traumatic events."

Having a pet at home, however, isn't a cure-all. "They're just an added bonus. It's like eating healthy -- it's not going to prevent cancer," but it might help you feel better, Martin says.

Potential health problems

In some cases, pets can be detrimental to health. Dog and cat dander rank among the top indoor/outdoor allergens. However, a University of Cincinnati study released last week found that infants in multiple-dog households wheezed less than other infants, indicating there might be some benefit to early exposure to bacterial contaminants.

Diseases and parasites also can be contracted from pets, including rabies, roundworms and hookworms, cat scratch disease, leptospirosis, Lyme disease, ringworm, salmonella, E.coli, and toxoplasmosis.

Bites are perhaps one of biggest detriments of pet ownership. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, 800,000 Americans annually are bitten badly enough to seek medical attention. Half are children, and about a dozen die from their injuries.

Though contracting disease from pets is rare, you can protect your health by keeping your pet healthy, Hess says. He recommends they have regular checkups, and that dogs and cats be kept up-to-date on shots and wormed at least twice a year.

To protect your health, the CDC recommends:

Washing your hands thoroughly after contact with animals or their feces.

Avoiding strays, puppies, kittens and pets with diarrhea if you are immune-compromised.

Contacting your doctor if you develop diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal cramps or nausea after contact with a pet, especially if the pet is ill.

Lisa Roberts can be reached at 407-420-5598 or lroberts@orlandosentinel.com.