Many people are starting to realize that owning a dog can help you to live longer. It is pretty much common knowledge that dog owners experience less stress and generally do not struggle with depression as much as those who do not own dogs. There are some ways that owning a dog can help you live longer that might come as a surprise to you.
7 Shocking Ways Owning a Dog Can Help You Live Longer
Maintain Your Independence for Longer
It is possible for many to continue living independently when they own a dog. There are service dogs that can sense a number of severe problems like if you are going to have a seizure or if your blood sugar is too low. There are also dogs that can be trained to help you in other ways like getting things you need if you suffer from a disease like Parkinson’s.
Feel Safer
Dog owners, especially those who live alone, feel more safe than those who are living without a dog. You will be less stressed and have less worry when you own a dog as opposed to if you did not own a dog. This can all make you feel safer and help you to live longer.
Stay More Organized
People who suffer from ADHD can get help from owning a dog as well. In fact owning and caring for a dog, can help you to have something to focus on which can help with your overall ability to focus. This can even help you to be more organized.
Find Cancer Sooner
In addition to all of the amazing ways that owning a dog can help you live longer, some dogs are able to detect cancer. This means that if you are a cancer survivor that owning a dog could be the best early detection that you have to the disease returning. Many times a dog can sniff out cancer much sooner than you would detect it on your own.
Stronger Bones
It has been proven that dog owners have stronger bones than those who do not own dogs. When you walk your dog you will have more exposure to the sun which means that you will have more Vitamin D which leads to healthier bone density.
Prevent Eczema
Most parents worry about their baby coming into contact with a dog. However, in 2011 The Journal of Pediatrics actually published a study that showed that owning a dog makes it less likely for you to have eczema, even as an infant.
Maintain a Healthy Weight
Many of the diseases that people die from today could be avoided by maintaining a healthy weight. One of the great advantages of being a dog owner is that you are getting regularly cardiovascular exercise when you are walking your dog. This can really help you to live longer.
Since having a dog can really do wonders to improve your own health it is important that you consider the health of your dog. One great way that you can help your dog to have the best possible health is to feed him raw dog food. Raw dog food allows your dog to maximize the absorption of vitamins and minerals. Plus the food is a great price so you will be able to stay on budget for your dog.
Image courtesy of zeljkosantrac.
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Pets (especially dogs) really do help us live a happier (and longer) life! Just petting animals helps bring our heart rates down! I’ve been a dog foster parent off and on for about two years now but I can’t wait to move into my own place so I can adopt my own dog <3
I love my dog! He definitely stresses me out sometimes, but he is a member of our family and I can’t imagine life without him! And I totally feel safer with him in our house. He is huge and his bark is really scary. I love to see the looks on the face of strangers when he greets them at the front door 🙂
I miss having a dog so much! I agree that there are awesome benefits to having “man’s best friend,” my favorite definitely being the sense of safety and security you have when knowing that your pet will alert you to intruders, protect you from people when walking, etc.
We love our dog, Max, but I didn’t realize all the benefits of owning a dog. I do feel much safer having Max around!
I really think we need a dog, but I would feel bad getting one knowing I don’t have time for them. Dogs I think need as much care as children. They need to be walked and exercised and large spaces to romp in. We had an awesome dog named sugar bear when I was a kid. She was such a great dog.
Pets are awesome. I know there’s huge mental health benefits of pet ownership, and companionship is a big deal to those who live alone, or those who don’t have family to care for them. The list you offer is pretty surprising. I didn’t know about the eczema~
dogs really are great!!! I loved my two doggies I had when I was younger! Wish I had more time to dedicate to one because I miss having a Pooch around!
I never even thought about the health advantages. More people should look into adopting some dogs!
This is such a great post, quite inspirational as well. I never knew some of these facts before, they are really great and I had no idea of the health benefits related to having a pet dog!
This is so true!! I love how much joy a pet can bring to your life whether it’s a dog or another animal.
Dogs are amazing animals but I have never been the type to care for a pet long term. I will admit they are an absolute comfort and joy to be around when they are well behaved.
Having a dog is such a joy, it’s very beneficial especially if you have kids. We have two dogs and we love them to bits.
I love dogs, and absolutely believe they are life enriching. I must admit that I hadn’t given thought to or heard of some of these life extending benefits. I’d really like to read that study done on eczema. It’s not an allergy I would have associated with dogs specifically, so it’s interesting that they somehow help prevent it.
This is an awesome post indeed. I really do thing people with chronic pain should have a dog. I have had chronic pain for many years and if it wasn’t for my dogs I probably would not be were I am today. Even though I literally have to crawl out of bed some days my dogs still need me to take care of them. Thanks for sharing.
Awww I miss having a dog! We had a yellow lab and she was the best dog ever 🙂
We have a pet dog and it does make lives more meaningful for us. He’s almost like another child.
We have a wonderful dog that drives us crazy but I would be able to get rid of her. I love that she is with me when I am working alone in the house.
These are all great reasons why having a pet would make you live longer. Pets make for some of the best friends, when you think you’re alone. They also makes great people to tell things to.
I love this article! We actually feed our dogs a raw diet, and they love it. I’m so glad I started because our first dog, Quinn, used to hate his food. I think he just got so bored with it! And then we started feeding him raw and he loved it so much. He passed away this past November, and I’m so glad I had started way before that so he could actually enjoy his meals for the last year of his life!