Pet Smarts: Having a Dog Improves Your Health :

They say that having a dog is similar to having a child. There’s the feeding, the toys, the playtime and even the schooling to get your companion well-trained. And just as a kid can keep you busy, a dog will keep you active as well -- maybe even active enough to consider your pet your exercise companion.

As your dog requires its daily walks, you will have no choice but to partake in the extra exercise. In the February 2006 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, a study based in Victoria, British Columbia, reports that dog owners spent an average of 300 minutes a week in mild to moderate activity, which is equal to the weight-loss exercise recommendations of an hour a day, most days of the week. Those without dogs averaged only 168 minutes weekly. Having a dog can also help stave off the ever-increasing epidemic of childhood obesity. “Owning a pet provides a reason for kids to get away from the computer games and to play outside,” says Dr. Matthew Makin, past president of the Australian Veterinary Association. “For this reason, I would always encourage parents to think about forgoing the next purchase of a computer game console in favor of a pet.”

Aside from the extra workout you’ll get from trying to keep up with your furry friend, there are many other health benefits to be gained .

Studies have shown that pet owners have measurably lower levels of cholesterol and blood pressure than those who have no companion animals at home. The State University of New York at Buffalo conducted a study of stockbrokers with high blood pressure to see what would happen if they adopted a dog. Researchers concluded that having a canine companion helps control increases in blood pressure due to stress.

“The reasons why pet owners are known to enjoy a range of health benefits, such as not visiting doctors as often and having lower cholesterol and blood pressure, are not easy to identify, but enjoying more exercise outdoors can only be good for our fitness and general wellbeing,” Makin says. “A recent study also found that children with exposure to pets are less likely to suffer from allergies.”

Children who live with a cat or dog during the first few years of their lives show a lower incidence of asthma and hay fever and are less likely to develop pet-related allergies. Recent studies also show that the immune systems of young children in families that have at least one pet are stronger than those of children who have no pets at home. Dr. June McNicholas, a health psychologist in Scotland, reported that, according to a study of 256 children (ages five to 11 years) absenteeism because of illness was significantly less among those with pets at home.

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