10 Ways Pets Can Boost Your Health
Your pet does more than keep you company — they're genuinely good for you. Science backs it up: From lowering blood pressure to reducing loneliness, the human-animal bond has real, measurable effects on your physical and mental well-being.
Here are 10 simple, research-backed ways your pet is already helping you live healthier.
1. Walking your dog
More than 60% of people who have dogs meet the recommended amount of exercise per week (either 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise), according to UC Davis Health.
2. Petting animals
Human-animal interaction like petting has been shown to influence the hormones directly tied to well-being and stress relief, according to the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI).
3. Playing fetch or chase
People with dogs are 2.5 times more likely to meet their daily physical activity guidelines, UC Davis reports. And active play like fetch or chase is a big reason why.
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4. Reading to your pet
Human-animal interaction raises oxytocin levels in the brain, HABRI reports. This slows heart rate, lowers blood pressure, and creates a sense of calm — making your pet the perfect reading companion.
5. Teaching a new trick
A study of nearly 8,000 older adults found that having a pet can slow cognitive decline and reduce the risk of dementia. Keeping your brain engaged with your pet is part of why.
6. Letting them curl up with you
Just the presence of an animal significantly improves blood pressure, according to UC Davis Health. People with pets typically have lower resting blood pressure than people who don't have pets.
7. Taking them somewhere new
Pets can lead to more human connections, Cleveland Clinic reports. For instance, a casual daily chat at the dog park can go a long way toward building a social life that supports longer, healthier living.
8. Establishing a feeding routine
The act of caring for a pet — including regular routines like feeding — is enough to create a calming sense of control and certainty, especially for people managing long-term stress or mental health challenges, according to HABRI.
9. Just sitting nearby
In a global survey of 16,000 people with pets from HABRI and Zoetis, 98% reported at least one personal health benefit from their pets, including reduced loneliness and decreased stress — even without structured activity.
10. Making pets part of family life
A Pew Research Center survey of over 5,000 U.S. adults found that 97% of people with pets consider their pets part of the family. That sense of belonging is a proven pillar of mental health.
The best part? You don't have to do anything extra. Just showing up for your pet by feeding them, sitting nearby, or taking a slow walk together is enough to make a difference. Your health (and theirs) will thank you.
