HAB-py tails: How pets impact our kids, relationships, and more

Veterinary medicine is one of the most rewarding fields to work in, and it can also be among the most challenging. In countless conversations over the years, we’ve heard veterinary professionals say again and again that seeing the way their work supports the human-animal bond (HAB) inspires them to stick with it, even when times are tough.

With that in mind, we hope that the following stories illustrating the power of the human-animal bond (HAB) provide you with a little extra inspiration the next time the daily grind begins to get to you.

(Got a suggestion for a story to include in our next HAB-py tails round up? Send it over to [email protected]!)

Petflix and chill

You know how good it feels, after a long day or a tough conversation, to sit down with your dog or cat and simply be? That’s not just in your head, and it’s not even just an emotional reaction; it’s science!

Research shows that co-modulation occurs between humans and animals (meaning a biological attunement where the humans and animals fall into similar cardiac, hormonal, and other patterns). This ability may come more easily to people who are naturally (and biologically predisposed) connected to animals, but anyone who commits to spending this kind of calm, comforting, quality time with a companion or therapy animal can experience the benefits.

Doggone romantic

Turns out that the bond we experience with our pets has wider-ranging effects than we’d realized, according to a study in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships. The study found that when a romantic couple interacted with a pet present, they showed increased signs of positive emotion—and these signs continued even after the pet left the room. Platonic friends also saw benefits from having a pet present; the effects were more immediate than in romantic partners, but not as long-lasting.

These findings differ from previous studies in that they dug into the way people interact with their pets in a social setting, as opposed to simply focusing on pet ownership. All of that is to say that, if you’re the one who seeks out the pet at a party, you really might be onto something! (Not that you needed us to tell you that…)

Immunity benefits of a family dog

The findings of a recent study on the impact of dogs in the home of a growing child were consistent with the hygiene hypothesis. In other words, when a child grows up in a home with a dog, their immune system is more likely to develop uninterrupted, which reduces their allergy risk.

A team of 19 experts in a variety of fields including asthma, biomedical informatics, genetics, immunology, and more worked together on the B-Cell Repertoire of Children With Atopic Dermatitis Exhibits Altered IgE Maturation Associated With Allergic Food Sensitization study to evaluate the antibody activity of 147 children with eczema. A key takeaway is that the immune systems of food-allergic children who lived with a dog did not experience the same lag as their counterparts without family dogs. It’s possible that these findings may lead to medications that may stimulate the immune system in a similar way, but also, we’re not about to argue against more families adding dogs to the family!

Horses and HAB

Don’t forget that the human-animal bond isn’t specific to traditional house pets! A recent study in Anthrozoös by researchers from the University of Turku and the University of Helsinki in Finland looked at the emotional attachment people form with horses, viewing the relationship through the attachment theory lens. Responses from 2287 horse owners across 21 countries showed that the attachment people feel for their horses falls right in line with the kind of attachment people feel for other pets, like cats and dogs.

(Related: If you’ve got horses and want to help them get their chill on, you might want to throw on some soft classical music for them!)

Photo credit: Nikola Stojadinovic via E+/Getty Images

Disclaimer:  Trends content is meant to inform, educate, and inspire by providing an array of diverse viewpoints. Any content published should not be viewed as an official stance, position, or endorsement by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) or its Board of Directors.