A HEALTHIER LIFE FOR ALL
How Having a Dog Is Mutually Beneficial
Yes, having a dog in New York can come with its challenges. But did you know that being a dog parent can also lead to lower blood pressure, cholesterol, stress, and loneliness? They say the bond between humans and dogs can lead to better health outcomes. Therefore, a dog is more than just a freeloader who can eat you out of house and home. That dog can literally save your life, just as you will likely have saved theirs if you adopted them. In other words, it’s a two-way street.
So, do dogs just magically lower your vitals to healthier levels? Believe it or not, yes and no. While just cuddling a dog will likely provide you with an overall calming effect, according to a 2004 study, University of Missouri-Columbia scientists found that human blood pressure dropped by approximately 10 percent around 15 to 30 minutes after petting a dog. Now if you are running out the door for that slice of New York pizza right afterward, well, you are out of luck because your blood pressure and cholesterol are most certainly going to rise.
Speaking of which, how does being a dog parent tend to lower cholesterol levels? That one is an easy answer. Dog parents tend to spend more time outdoors, walking and running with their furrever one. So that exercise ends up helping to bring those numbers down a decent amount.
Here is a little confession for you: I have had naturally high cholesterol my entire life, well until my recent health crisis (having nothing to do with my heart). It is a family trait many generations old. Has my cholesterol subsided any because of my dog, Brioreo, or Bri for short? Yes, by about 15% since we adopted her three and a half years ago. Remember, Bri is the Spokesdog for our sister publication, Pet Lifestyles Magazine.
HIGHS & LOWS
The truth is that Brioreo has helped me get through a lot of emotional and physical angst over her three plus years as our FurrBaby.
When both our Snickers and Rolo died from different cancers a few years ago, my wife Kylie could not even look at another dog without balling. That lasted for months on end. Nine months later, Brioreo was being fostered by another couple but kept pulling them to say hi to me, and just wouldn’t leave my side. I knew we had to adopt her. So after arranging a meet up with Bri, Kylie too fell in love. Now we are a pack. So were my cholesterol and blood pressure numbers high after Snickers and Rolo passed? Yes. But then then they came down pretty quickly after adopting Bri.
Those numbers are far lower today after my health crisis in January, which Bri has helped me get through emotionally. Physically is a different story because of the limitations that are related to what happened to me. Thankfully they are temporary and I will be walking Brioreo all around my community again very soon.
What is the likeliest outcome is that as I get stronger, I will be able to start walking her again (as opposed to Kylie who has had to take on the responsibility completely). And once that begins, my longer distance and more frequent walks will begin again. Last time I did this, my numbers dropped significantly!
But Bri also is the beneficiary of this kind of relationship. As I have been primarily homebound, Kylie has been taking her out with high frequency and for far longer walks. This not only helps Brioreo’s overall health, it also assists with her temperament. After all, the saying is “a tired dog is a happy dog!”
Now let me tackle the real issue at hand, one I touched on earlier; saving their lives. Please consider heading over to your local shelter or rescue to inquire about bringing home a furrever one today that can help you live a healthier, happier life. To find one, visit our friends at Best Friends Animal Society at bestfriends.org to learn about their Lifesaving Centers and Best Friends Network Partners today!