The Effects of Animals on Human Health and Well‐Being The Effects of Animals on Human Health and Well‐Be | Page 2

 Discussion
The subject of companion animals can be a catalyst for engaging patients in
discussions about preventive health. General practitioners are in an ideal
position to understand the human-pet dynamic, and to encourage patients to
interact with their pets to improve their own health and wellbeing. Questions
relating to companion animals could be asked during routine social history
taking. The knowledge gained from this approach may facilitate more tailored
patient management and personalised lifestyle recommendations.
People keep pets for companionship, recreation and protection, rather than
for the specific purpose of enhancing their health. However, a considerable
body of literature supports the idea that companion animals can improve
overall quality of life, including physical, social and psychological health. This
phenomenon has been described as the ‘pet effect’.
This article provides a brief review of the literature in an attempt to increase
awareness about the role pets may play in healthcare. It also provides
practical ways in which to integrate the 'pet effect' into general practice.
The health benefits
Companion animals offer a range of health related benefits including
improvement in overall health and psychological wellbeing, which is
important given the increased life expectancy and the prevalence of chronic
diseases in the population. These benefits can be classified into three
categories:
 physical health, by facilitating improvements in cardiovascular health
and physical fitness (particularly for dog owners who exercise their
dogs), and the human immune system
 psychological health, including the ability of pets to assist
practitioners during therapeutic work ('animal assisted therapy'),
playing an important role in child development and providing
psychological health benefits
 social health, due to the role pets can play as social enablers.