The Epidemiology of Human-Animal Interactions:

Part IIHealth Benefits to Humans

Larry Glickman, VMD, DrPHand

Nita Glickman, MS, MPH

Purdue UniversitySchool of Veterinary Medicine

The Epidemiology of Human-Animal Interactions: Health Benefits to Humans of

Animal Ownership

• Larry Glickmanand

• Nita Glickman

Human-Animal Bond: Definition

• “A continuous, bi-directional relationship between a human and an animal that brings significant benefit to a central aspect of the lives of each, which is in some sense voluntary and in which each party treats the other as an object of admiration, trust, devotion, or love.”

Traditional Roles & Functions of Animals

• Sources of food & clothing

• Symbols (religious, cultural)

• Transportation & ‘Beasts of Burden’

• Companionship

Traditional Roles & Functions of Animals (continued)

• Units of barter & measure of wealth

• Entertainment & sport

• Security, protection, rescue

More “Modern” Roles of Animals• Models for comparative medicine &

biomedical research

• Stress reduction through role as member of family & social-support network

• Therapeutic, psychological & physical aids

• Education, e.g., teachingnurturance to children

Proposed Physical & Psychological Impact on Humans by Pets

Pets are a source of:

• Companionship

• Love

• Humor

• Play

• Exercise

• Sense of power

• Outlets for displacement & nurturance

Reasons Reported for Families Obtaining a Pet

• Companionship/pleasure 49%• Educational for children 11%• Rescued it 11%• Replacement of person or pet 7%• Sport 1%• Breeding 1%

Concerning the Importance of Pets: Reported Responses

• Pet very important to family96%

• Increased family happiness & funafter getting pet70%

• Pet is a full family member 68%

Concerning the Importance of Pets: Reported Responses

• Pet of great importance to family members when they were sad, lonely, & depressed

68%• Pet communicated with family 73%• Pet understood when family members talked

to it 77%

Attitudes of the Elderly Regarding the Benefits of Pets

• Talk to their pet 95%

• Pet helps when they feel sad 81%

• Pet helps when they physicallyfeel bad 71%

• Touching their pet makes themfeel better 65%

• Confide in their pet 57%

Magnitude of Pet Populations:European Community

% Households Owning Pets

Dogs Cats Birds Ireland 41 24 5 France 31 24 8 UK 25 21 7 Spain 16 12 16 Sweden 15 18 6 GDR 14 12 11 All Europe 22 19 11

Magnitude of Pet Populations:United States (1996)

Species % of Households

Total Population (millions)

Dogs 31.6 52.9

Cats 27.3 59.1

Birds 4.6 12.6

Horses 1.5 4.0

Magnitude of Pet Populations:United States (1996)

Species % Households Total Population(millions)

Fish 6.3 55.5

Ferrets 0.4 0.7

Rabbits 1.9 4.9

Example 1: Association of Pet Ownership with Survival Following a

Heart Attack

Ownership Survived* N (%)

Died N (%)

2

(p value)

No Pet Pet

246 (94) 103 (96)

16 (6) 4 (4)

1.07 (p>0.05)

No Dogs Dogs

263 (93) 86 (99)

19 (7) 1 (1)

4.05 (p<0.05)

No Cats Cats

308 (95) 41 (93)

17 (5) 3 (7)

0.19 (p>0.05)

Example 2: Pet Ownership is Associated with Decreased Physician

Visits in the ElderlyCategory Mean # Physician

Contacts Per Year Dog Owners Many life events* Few life events

8.91 7.90 (p>0.05)

Non-Dog Owners Many life events Few life events

10.37 8.38 (p<0.05)

Example 3: Value of Service Dogs for People with Severe Ambulatory

Disabilities Initial Score

Mean (SD) 1-year Score Mean (SD)

Self Esteem

Dog Group Control Group

13.0 (2.1) 14.1 (1.2)

35.3 (0.6) 14.3 (1.0)

Psychological Well-Being

Dog Group Control Group

1.6 (0.5) 1.8 (0.4)

8.0 (0.3) 1.7 (0.5)

P<.001

P<.001

Value of Service Dogs for People with Severe Ambulatory Disabilities (con’d)

Initial Score Mean (SD)

1-year Score Mean (SD)

Level of Community Integration

Dog Group Control Group

2.3 (0.6) 2.2 (0.5)

25.3 (0.9) 2.3 (0.4)

P<.001

Implications of Pet Ownership for Human Health & Epidemiologic

Research• Pet animals are an integral component

of the social & environmental milieu of “modern” society.

• Pet animals often are part of the family and social support network.

Implications of Pet Ownership for Human Health

• Pet animals may positively impact human health and should be considered as important moderating influences in epidemiologic studies of risk & prognostic factors for human diseases.

Implications of Pet Ownership for Human Health

• The mechanisms by which pet animals influence human health are not fully understood.

Implications of Pet Ownership for Human Health

• Pet-facilitated therapy may be effective for treating specific diseases or chronic conditions & can reduce the cost of traditional health care.

• Pets should beconsidered as alternativeor complementarytreatments for somediseases.

Important Questions for Future Research

• What is it about pet ownership that influences human health?

• Who is most likely to benefit from pet ownership? Children? Senior Citizens?

• Are the beneficial physiological responses of humans to animal contact sustainable over time?