Can owning a pet make you healthier?

According to Smith, decades of research suggests that people who own pets, particularly dogs, are typically healthier than those who don't have any pets.

For example, studies have shown that having a pet is associated with lower blood pressure, a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease, and decreased mortality rates after a heart attack or stroke. A large review of studies published in 2019 also found that owning a dog was associated with a 24% decreased risk of all-cause mortality over a 10-year period.

The American Heart Association has also released a scientific statement focused on dog ownership and heart health, saying that owning a dog "may be reasonable for reduction in cardiovascular disease risk." However, the organization doesn't recommend getting a dog solely for heart health.

Although most research on pet ownership and health has focused on dogs, there is also some research about owning cats and their impact on health. Some studies suggest that owning a cat is linked to a lower risk of dying from a heart attack or stroke, possibly by helping reduce stress.

Pets can also help improve people's health and longevity by providing companionship, which can improve mental well-being. People who are single or live alone are likely to see the most benefits from animal companionship.

Dog ownership "really has some substantial health benefits in countering the health consequences of loneliness, of isolation," said Adrian Bauman, an emeritus professor of public health at the University of Sydney in Australia.

"Pet owners in general, but dog owners in particular, have longer, healthier lives than people who don't have pets," Kazi said. "The correlation is very convincing. Now the question is: Is this relationship causal?" 

Other research suggests that being unhealthy could also negatively impact the health of your pet. For example, a study published in Public Health Nutrition found that people who had overweight dogs — but not overweight cats — were more likely to be overweight. Another study found that if a dog has Type 2 diabetes, its owner is more likely to develop the disease as well.

"You share your home environment with your dog," said Tove Fall, a professor of molecular epidemiology at Uppsala University in Sweden and a former veterinarian. "So if you are not living the healthiest lifestyle, maybe your dog is not doing that as well."

Fall also noted that it's difficult to know whether dogs can make people healthier or if healthier people are just more likely to have dogs. In general, dog owners are typically younger and richer than non-owners, which can often mean better health.

"If you're very frail and you cannot really take care of yourself, you're quite unlikely to get a puppy, right?" Fall said. Pets can also be a source of stress due to difficulties with house training, expensive vet bills, and more.

Overall, pets are "a lot of work, and they are a pretty substantial commitment of emotional and financial resources," Kazi said. However, he added, they're also "such a joy."