How Pets Boost Your Immune System?

Living with pets offers many health benefits. From lower blood pressure and reduced risk of heart disease to better mental health, owning a pet can be a key to a healthier you. However, that’s not all; research has shown that living with a cat or a dog can enhance your immune system. 

One of the strongest scientific arguments that supports the idea that pets boost immunity is based on the “hygiene hypothesis.” Based on this theory, early exposure to a diverse range of microbes, often found on pets and in outdoor environments, helps the developing immune system to distinguish between harmful and harmless agents.  

Some scientists believe that without this exposure, the immune system may become hyper-reactive, increasing the likelihood of allergies and autoimmune conditions. 

A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that children who grew up on traditional farms or in households with multiple pets had lower rates of childhood asthma and allergies compared to children who grew up in petless urban settings.

Another study has discovered that a child’s allergy risk at ages seven and nine lowers proportionally with the number of pets that were kept at home in early childhood. 

“It’s not a universal cure-all, and every time I give a lecture on this, someone goes ‘Well I grew up on a farm and I’ve got allergies’, but we know that if you grow up physically interacting with farm animals, you have about 50% reduction in your likelihood of developing asthma or allergies,” said Jack Gilbert, a professor at the University of California San Diego.

Research also showed that some bacterial strains found on pets get transferred to their owners through proximity or touch. While this may seem unappealing to some people, it’s a type of natural microbiome exposure that can shape the immune system, particularly in early life. 

Dogs, more than cats, carry dirt and bacteria from the outside, broadening the household’s microbiome. 

Gilbert believes that our immune systems have evolved to be stimulated by the microbiome pets carry. Although these microbes are not with us all the time, our immune system recognizes the familiar signals as they come through, which helps the immune system develop in the right direction. 

“Over many millennia, the human immune system got used to seeing dog, horse, and cow bacteria. And so when it sees those things, it triggers beneficial immune development. It knows what to do,” said Gilbert.

Another way pets may boost our immune systems is through stress regulation. Research has shown that chronic stress can undermine the immune system by elevating cortisol levels. In turn, a weakened immune system lowers the body’s ability to fight off diseases.  

Numerous studies found that interacting with pets, whether it’s walking a dog or stroking a cat, lowers cortisol levels and boosts oxytocin. This improves mental health and also supports a better immune response.

Owning a pet, especially a dog, often leads to increased physical activity. Adults should get at least 150 minutes of moderate activity per week, and dog owners are more likely to achieve or exceed this objective.

Exercise, in turn, has a beneficial effect on your immune health. It’s well-documented that exercise improves circulation, reduces inflammation, and even slows age-related immune decline. 

This is amazing news for pet parents, and new research continues to show that living with pets throughout our lives can be beneficial for our immune health and overall well-being. 

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