The results of a new study suggest owning and caring for a dog helps to maintain heart health. The study (funded by the Mayo Clinic) compared the cardiovascular health scores of pet owners overall to those who did not own pets. Then it compared dog owners to other pet owners and those who did not own pets. The results of the study suggest an association between dog ownership and cardiovascular health.
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“In general, people who owned any pet were more likely to report more physical activity, better diet and blood sugar at ideal level. The greatest benefits from having a pet were for those who owned a dog, independent of their age, sex and education level.”
-Andrea Maugeri, Ph.D., researcher with the International Clinical Research Center at St. Anne’s University Hospital in Brno and the University of Catania in Catania, Italy.
Journal Reference: Maugeri, A., et al. Dog Ownership and Cardiovascular Health: Results From the Kardiovize 2030 Project, Mayo Clinic Proceedings, September, 2019.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocpiqo.2019.07.007
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