Health benefits of pets: How your furry friend improves your mental and physical health

For many of us, our pets are family. From dogs or cats to birds and reptiles, our pets bring us happiness, companionship and a sense of purpose.

Dogs specifically have been proven to reduce stress, anxiety and depression, ease loneliness, encourage exercise, and improve your overall health.

With stress and burnout rates on the rise, having a furry friend waiting for you at home is scientifically proven to improve your mental and physical health. Plus, owning a pet can help you age in a healthy way.

Read more on how experts break down the mental and physical benefits of having a pet.

About Cultivating Health

At UC Davis Health, we aim to teach and lead people to live a healthy lifestyle. The blog is a user-friendly guide of tips for our community to cultivate health through all stages of life and is produced by Public Affairs and Marketing.