1. They can help you stay ahead of epilepsy.
While seizures themselves typically end on their own without causing serious damage, they can cause people to fall over and bruise, burn themselves, or break their bones. Also: If people with epilepsy aren’t turned on their sides during an episode, they can inhale their own vomit and possibly die.
That’s where seizure assistance dogs come into play. Properly trained pooches bark when their owners have a seizure. Joel Wilcox, 14, says his adorable Papillon gave him the “independence and confidence to just go to school or attempt activities,” without having to live in fear of seizures.
Researchers from Michigan State University found that nearly half of dog-owners exercised 30 minutes a day, five days or more a week. Do the math, and that comes out to an average of 150 hours of exercise a week — exactly what the CDC suggestsTrusted Source you get.
Another studyTrusted Source out of Australia found dog-owners walked roughly 30 minutes more a week than those without four-legged friends in their lives. Not known: What percentage of those walks was spent watching dogs pee indiscriminately on things.
3. They can lower your blood pressure.
Research published by the NIHTrusted Source found that pet owners might be protected against cardiovascular risk. That doesn’t mean you can eat Taco Bell for a month straight just because you own a Chihuahua. But seeing as heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, it is promising.
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4. They can help you kick smoking.
An online poll conducted by the Henry Ford Health System in Detroit found that about one in three smokers said the health of a pet would motivate them to try to quit smoking. So go ahead and get your smoker friend a dog for Christmas. Or dress up like a dog, then kindly ask them to quit.
5. They keep you from seeing the doctor all the time.
According to a study published in the Australian Social Monitor, dog owners made 15 percent fewer visits to the doctor than those who didn’t have a four-legged friend at home. Giving you all the extra time you need to teach your dog how to play basketball.
In one cross-campus study, college students who were dealing with depression were invited to spend a couple hours with a therapy dog. They could pet, play fetch, and even take selfies. The results: A 60 percent decrease in self-reported anxiety and loneliness symptoms.