Could Getting Another Pet Increase Your Dog's Lifespan? Research Says "Yes"
Rebecca West
As pet owners, most of us are always looking for ways to improve their quality of life. We take them in for regular checkups, give them the best quality foods and treats we can afford, walk them regularly, and try to provide them with the mental stimulation and enrichments recommended for long, healthy, and (hopefully) happy lives.
A recent study involving over 21,000 canines conducted through the Dog Aging Project looked into the environmental and social factors linked with the increased lifespans of our canine friends. According to the results, adding another pet to your family unit could be vital to your dog's overall health.
This really shouldn't come as much of a surprise when you think about it. Can you imagine not having a peer of any sort or waiting around all day hoping someone will come home and talk to you, want to hang out with you, or go and play? That's assuming they have the strength, energy, and interest after presumably working all day.
Constantly feeling alone and bored is something so many people had to deal with during the pandemic, and it did not go well for a lot of them. Feelings of isolation or loneliness have negative impacts on our mental health, which can influence our physical health.
The study's results pointed to the fact that dogs who regularly socialize with other dogs experience improved overall health in general. In homes with more than one pet, researchers found this was particularly evident. But it wasn't limited to just dogs. It turns out the animal companions didn't have to bark. They could meow or maybe even squeal, but they were present and interacted with them regularly.
Entitled "Social determinants of health and disease in companion dogs: a cohort study from the Dog Aging Project," the findings were published in May 2023 in the journal Evolution, Medicine & Public Health.
What the collected data boils down to is that dogs are frequently healthier if they share a home with another companion animal. We say "frequently" because of course there will be occasions when animals are living in situations with abusive family members of the four-legged persuasion. Like humans, some animals are cranky and pick on those around them.
The study's findings were based on survey data collected and reviewed by scientists from Arizona State University, the University of Washington, and other institutions of higher learning. ASU and researcher Lisa M. Gunter have taken part in a number of canine studies over the years, including the impacts of shelter life on dogs and how the stress hormone cortisol negatively affects them.
