A new study has revealed that social interaction isn’t just good for people but for dogs, too.
The research recently appeared in the journal Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health.
Leveraging data from the Dog Aging Project, the team investigated social determinants affecting the health of 21,410 dogs as they aged.
For instance, they looked at family finances, neighborhood stability, how many pets are in the household, the presence of children, and the pet parent’s age.
Social companionship — understood as time spent with owners and with other pets — was found to have a significant impact on a dog’s health as it aged. In fact, the effect of social bonds was five times greater than the other determinants considered.
“While we can’t say ‘having another dog in the house adds X years to your dog’s life,’ we were able to compare the strengths of the effect of different environmental factors on health,” explained Noah Snyder-Mackler, lead author of the paper and an associate professor at Arizona State University, according to The Washington Post.
“[The results also] suggest that having more furry friends is linked to better health outcomes,” Snyder-Mackler added.
Interestingly, the presence of children in a household seemed to negatively impact a dog’s health.
“It’s not that kids hurt the dogs or directly affect their health,” explained Layla Brassington, who was involved in the study as an ASU master’s student, according to the WP. “The more children or time that owners dedicate to their children likely leads to less time and effort they can dedicate to their furry children.”
The age and income of owners were also seemingly a factor, as poorer health was found in dogs living in households with financial difficulties, and better health was found among those with older owners.
According to the researchers, the interest of the study lies in how data on factors affecting the health of dogs can be extrapolated to provide valuable insights into the health of humans.
“Dogs are often considered our closest animal companions and share many aspects of our daily lives,” said Brianah McCoy, a co-author of the paper and an ASU doctoral student, according to WP.
For instance, much like humans, the leading causes of death in older dogs are cancer and cardiovascular disease.
Moreover, as Americans are grappling with an obesity crisis, their pets are also facing a weight problem, with approximately 56% of dogs considered clinically overweight or obese.
While the study highlighted new concepts to explore, there were some limitations.
For instance, the majority of participants surveyed were from high-income households, suggesting that a more diverse participant group might offer richer insights into factors influencing dog health. As for the impact of different breeds or the benefits of physical activity, the study remains inconclusive.
As previously reported in The Dallas Express, the effects of having a pet on our health are typically positive.
They can reduce loneliness and alleviate stress, while dog owners, in particular, have been shown to achieve higher levels of regular physical activity.
On the other hand, owning a pet might also lower sleep quality, with late-night disturbances possible.
