As a family doctor, I spend a lot of time talking about things like medications, sleep, and cutting back on sugar. But here’s one treatment I wish I could officially prescribe: pets, the four-legged natural healers. Whether they bark, purr, chirp, or just stare at you from a fishbowl, animals have an incredible way of keeping us healthier, and a whole lot happier.
It’s not just wishful thinking, science agrees. Playing with your dog or cuddling your cat lowers blood pressure and stress, while boosting ‘happy hormones’ like oxytocin and serotonin. In other words, tossing a ball or scratching behind an ear can be as calming as deep breathing. Our animals often keep us more active as well. Dog owners, for example, are more likely to meet their daily exercise goals with frequent dog walks.
But what I love most about pets is their ability to make life lighter. Dogs remind us to celebrate the little things, like sunshine and unconditional love. Cats demonstrate the fine art of confidence and napping. Even a goldfish gives you a reason to pause and just…watch. Pets have a knack for pulling us out of our heads and back into the moment.
Kids learn kindness and responsibility from caring for animals, while older adults often find that a furry companion keeps them active and less lonely. Sure, owning a pet is a serious commitment, but for many people, the rewards go far beyond what medication can offer. They fill our homes with laughter, routine, and warmth that no medication could match.
So, while I can’t hand out “one puppy twice daily” on a prescription pad, I can confidently say this: life’s a little better, and a lot healthier, when shared with something that wags, purrs, or squawks back.
Dr. Hunt is a Family Medicine Physician at Columbia Basin Hospital in Ephrata, WA. She enjoys spending her free time outdoors with her family and her own four-legged companions.
