Pet ownership and human health: a brief review of evidence and issues

2005/11/24 by June McNicholas, Andrew Gilbey, Ann Rennie +3 · 2 citations
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Medicine · Psychology · Social Sciences · #Agriculture and Farm Safety #Business #Environmental health #Geographies of human-animal interactions #Human health #Human-Animal Interaction Studies #Medicine #Psychology

paper · pdf · doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7527.1252

openalex publication_date 2005/11/24 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/30

Abstract

Research into the association between pet ownership and human health has produced intriguing, although frequently contradictory, results often raising uncertainty as to whether pet ownership is advisable on health grounds

Citations

• Dogs as catalysts for social interactions: Robustness of the effect
• Pet Ownership and Health in Older Adults: Findings from a Survey of 2,551 Community-Based Australians Aged 60–64
• Social Relationships and Health
• Health Benefits and Health Cost Savings Due to Pets: Preliminary Estimates from an Australian National Survey

Cited by

• Positive and Negative Aspects of Our Relationship with Companion Animals
• Dog [wikipedia]