The Positive Effect of Pet Ownership on Human Wellbeing

by Dr Pip Wines, Senior Veterinarian

As vets, we are all aware of the positive effect that pet ownership has on human well-being. All of our staff at Turramurra Veterinary Hospital are devoted pet parents ourselves, and in addition to our own pets, get the added bonus of a daily fix of cuddles, purrs and tail wags at work.

I have been a pet owner all my life. My first pet was a Border Collie cross Rough Collie that I adopted at age four from the RSPCA. When we adopted him, he was probably too young, but the RSPCA had no option but to rehome his whole litter urgently, and we were one of the lucky families to be given a teeny tiny puppy. We fed him milk with an eye dropper and were advised by our parents that he may not make it through the night. At this point, my siblings and I decided we would stay up all night to make sure he lived. One of us put the saucer of milk on the floor, at which point the little guy lapped the whole thing up. 

He was a treasured member of our family for 16 years and I’m sure was instrumental in my passion to become a vet. He saw me through the angst of my teenage years, the loss of loving grandparents and through the many ups and downs of a normal childhood.

Pet ownership is known to decrease loneliness, social isolation, stress and depression across all ages by creating companionship and responsibility. Playing with a dog or cat is known to decrease blood pressure, cholesterol and even triglyceride levels. Some of these positive outcomes could be associated with increased activity levels when owning a pet.

There is a huge focus on the mental health of our youth. I know of many cases where parents of teenagers who are struggling with their well-being notice a significant turnaround when their child is given a pet or encouraged to be the main caregiver for their family pet. Pet ownership has been known to reduce the ‘stress hormone’ called cortisol. During this current lock down, it is heartening to see kids walking with a friend and their dog, chatting happily and importantly away from their screens and devices!

Pet ownership for children can teach so much. I love it when (in non-pandemic times) children come into my consultations and learn about how to care for their pets. I love engaging with the younger family members in discussions about what their pet likes to do at home, what they eat and even who is their pet’s favourite family member! Usually, they tell me that they are the favourite! Pets also teach children the important lesson of loss and grief. Often the death of a pet is the first loss a child experiences and can be crucial in learning the normal emotions of sadness and loss.

At Turramurra Veterinary Hospital we are passionate about animals and their roles in our families. If you would ever like to talk to us to discuss the possibility of getting a new pet, we are always here for you.