As dogs, we are natural healers. We care about the well-being of our families, and use our energy to buoy their emotional and physical well being. Of course, we tend to the basics of health — we make sure our humans take lots of walks…and we let them know they are loved, greeting them enthusiastically each time they come through the door. I make it a practice to greet my human with zeal each time she crosses the threshold, even if she only went outside for five minutes to move the trash can. And she does the same for me.
But studies have also shown that people with pets have lower cholesterol, blood pressure, and heart attack risk. They also make significantly fewer visits to the doctor. The University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine has been studying how interacting with animals increases happiness by raising the hormone, oxytocin. Oxytocin is responsible for helping people feel happy and trusting. So keep up the good work, dogs! With all those naps, it may not seem like you’re doing much, but you make the world a healthier place. There is a lot of power in fur and tail medicine.