Monday, September 26, 2016

Friendly Pet Dogs Improve a Child’s Health, CDC Suggests


If there weren’t already enough reasons to own a dog, here's another....

Having a pet dog in the home helps in reducing childhood anxiety, according to research recently published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

Researchers found that dogs can reduce childhood anxiety, particularly social and separation anxiety, in a variety of ways.  Dogs can stimulate conversation and alleviate separation anxiety, and social interaction between humans and dogs may lead to increased oxytocin levels in both the human and the dog.

“Interacting with a friendly dog also reduces cortisol levels, most likely through oxytocin release, which lessens physiologic responses to stress.  These hormonal effects may underlie the observed emotional and behavioral benefits of animal-assisted therapy and pet dogs,” according to the study.  Visit cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2015/15_0204.htm for more information on this study, “Pet Dogs and Children’s Health: Opportunities for Chronic Disease Prevention?”