According to the National Institutes of Health, pets don't just provide companionship - some research indicates that they may help improve your health.
One study, which included more than 400 adults who'd had a heart attack, found that the people who had dogs were more likely to be alive a year later, even those who had more severe heart attacks. One of the responsibilities that comes with keeping a dog - taking it for regular walks - may provide some of the health benefits.
In another study, this time with more than 2,000 participants, those who owned dogs and regularly walked them were less likely to be obese than people who didn't have these furry friends or didn't walk them.
Walking your dog even at a slow 20-minute per mile pace will cause you to burn off about 150 calories each half-hour. If you punctuate the walk with chasing the dog or throwing a Frisbee or ball for him to catch, you may burn off even more calories and bring other body parts into the workout.
But those aren't the only benefits. Experts recommend that people get regular weight-bearing exercise to strengthen their bones and reduce their risk of osteoporosis. Taking Fluffy and Spot for a trot around the block daily may help keep your bones healthy.
The Michigan Humane Society offers these recommendations to help protect you and your pet while on walks:
- Stay together. Your dog should always be on a leash and wear an ID tag or license for good measure.
- Watch the surface. Steer clear of hot pavement in the summer. In the winter, clean your pet's paws if they've been in contact with salt or chemicals that melt ice, since they can hurt the paws. If the temperature is extremely hot or cold, postpone your walk until the temperature is more pleasant.
- Give your dog plenty of water before, after, and throughout the walk, even during cooler months.
If you're concerned about the health of your bones or your heart, Life Line Screening offers simple tests that can point to potential problems. Our painless ultrasound screening for osteoporosis shows whether your bone density puts you at higher risk of a fracture, and our test for peripheral arterial disease in your legs can assess whether you may have a higher risk of coronary artery disease in your heart.
Learn more about screening for osteoporosis
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