Top US Veterinary Professor Explains How Pets Can Lower Stress And Improve Survival Rates

For many people, pets are not just companions but family. And as per US veterinary expert Rustin Moore, science increasingly supports what pet owners have long felt emotionally.Speaking about the National Pet Month, Moore said that the relationship between humans and animals goes far beyond comfort. "95% of people consider them family members and they treat them like that," he said, adding that the grief of losing a pet is often misunderstood. "It's not just a dog, it's a family member." Moore, who serves as the dean and Rita Jean Wolfe Endowed Chair in Veterinary Medicine, believes conversations around pets are often reduced to "feel-good moments," when in reality, the impact is much deeper - physically, emotionally and psychologically.He also

explained how pets naturally bring structure into people's lives. Recalling his experience with his dogs Teddy and Travis, Moore said having pets changed his routine entirely. "I’d come in at work at 7 in the morning and go home at 10 at night. You don’t do that when you have them,” he said. That shift in lifestyle, as per him, can contribute directly to better health outcomes. According to Moore, studies have shown that people who interact regularly with pets often experience lower heart rates, reduced blood pressure and improved cholesterol levels. "My heart rate is probably lower than it would be if he wasn’t here,” he said.

US Professor Explains Animal Human Bond

He also spoke about a research that suggested that pet ownership can also improve survival after serious health events. Moore said, "People who have a heart attack or stroke probably have a 34% higher survival rate one year out if you have a pet."

The Impact On Mental Health

Another area where pets have a powerful impact is mental health. Moore described pets, especially dogs, as highly intuitive, especially during moments of emotional distress. Whether it is anxiety, depression or loneliness, animals often respond before people around them do. "There is scientific evidence that people who are stressed have more cortisol released in their body," he explained. For the unversed, cortisol is commonly known as the stress hormone. "Dogs can smell the stress hormone in our skin or our breath. I think those people naturally go to them."This emotional sensitivity is part of what experts describe as the "human-animal bond" - a relationship Moore calls mutually beneficial. "When you sit with an animal, not only does your blood pressure go down, theirs does too, assuming it’s a good relationship," he said. What makes the bond unique, according to Moore, is that no two relationships look the same. He has three dogs himself and says each connection is entirely different. "They’re all great. I don’t have a favourite, but they’re all different," he said.