ukpets logo
Pet Classifieds Pet Classifieds
  • For Sale
  • For Adoption
  • For Stud
  • Wanted
Post An Ad
Pet Care Blog
  • All Pet Care
  • Training Tips
  • Health / Grooming
  • General Advice
  • Interesting Articles
Tools Tools
  • Dogs
  • All Dog Breeds
  • Breed Finder Quiz
  • Compare Dog Breeds
  • Cats
  • All Cat Breeds
  • Breed Finder Quiz
  • Compare Cat Breeds
Account Account
Register
Sign In
Connect With Us:
  • Classifieds
  • Blog
Advanced Search Post an Ad
£0£2000+

Pets As Probiotics: A Surprising Reason How Our Pets Make Us Healthier

Share this: Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Email

Reading Time: 4 minutes

pets like dogs as probiotics to humanSomething shook us to the gut recently. We learned that the reason why children who grew up with pets are less likely to develop asthma and various allergies was because of bacteria. Not the bad kind, but the sort of microorganisms that can boost human immune systems and make us healthier. As it turns out, such friendly germs can be sourced from pets. This is one more benefit to having a dog or a cat!

Are Pets the “New Yogurt?”

a girl laughed while being licked by a dogThe latest studies on animal and human health have revealed that microbes from dogs can help keep us healthy. That’s because exposure to diverse microorganisms boosts human microbes, which can protect against various diseases, even obesity.

This indicates that a “too clean” home can make children and adults more sensitive to many things. According to the “hygiene hypothesis,” over-cleaning can make us more likely to get allergies and asthma. Eliminating the “bad bacteria” may also wipe out the good. We will talk more about this later.

We know all too well how our pets are capable of bringing in various contaminants in the home.
Microbes that have latched to their muzzles, fur, and paws from their outdoor excursions can be deposited into our residences. Researchers have found that dogs tend to raise the home’s bacterial diversity by 56 levels. Cats improve the domestic bacterial cocktail by only about 24 categories. However, researchers have yet to prove that cats can help prevent immune issues. Much of their studies focused on canine pets.

FREE E-BOOK

home-remedies-for-dog-health-issues
Get your FREE e-book on

Home Remedies for Most Common Dog Healthcare Issues

when you subscribe to your weekly dose of pet-infused newsletters

Packed with solutions and ideas for treating
common health issues for your dog at home.


In a study of children living near barnyard animals and those who grew apart from them, there were more asthma patients amongst the latter. Further, the first group had less immune system-related illnesses compared to those who were not exposed to animals.

This just proves what scientists have known for many years—a lack of exposure to a variety of bacteria can lead to more immune-related sickness.

You may also like:

The 10 Best Dog Breeds for Children

How Important Is Having A Healthy and Diverse Microbiota?

a girl exposed to microbes through a dog“Both inside and out, our bodies harbour a huge array of microorganisms,” explained science journalist Nicola Davis. “While bacteria are the biggest players, we also host single-celled organisms known as archaea, as well as fungi, viruses, and other microbes—including viruses that attack bacteria. Together, these are dubbed the human microbiota,” she added.

Whilst there are dangerous microbes, most of them are good ones. There are those that break down certain substances that enter the body. Others “programme” the immune system.

What can change the composition of our microbiota are stress, the environment we live in, and the kind of food we eat long-term. The medicines we take, particularly antibiotics, can also change the gut microbe mix. Because of this, each person has a different set of the microbiota. Some may have a better set, whilst others do not. And if your microbes are not well, then neither are you.

“If you want to be healthy, you need to take care of your microbiome,” advised microbiologist Dr. Liping Zhao of Rutgers University. “If you take good care of your microbiome, it will support you. If you do not, you can turn a partner for health into a pathogen for disease,” he emphasised.

The significant role microbiomes play in human health has made it the focus of many studies in the last few years. Microbiomes, as it turned out, can influence weight, brain function, sleep, mental well-being, nerve health, and, of course, digestion.

Such research has sparked a boom in probiotic health products and further investigation. Scientists have even turned their attention to pets as a form of probiotics for humans. Based on their research, as mentioned previously, there is much promise in this area. Indeed, if the key to healthy microbiota is a diverse mix, then one should be exposed to more microbes.

Should You Get A Pet?

dog and cat can boost human microbiotaThere is more to boosting microbiota composition than exposing ourselves to a richer mix of microbes, though. Microbiologists have advised that the substances that work for others may not work for us. As such, it is important to take probiotics in moderation and with the guidance of a medical professional.

But what about boosting our microbiota with a new pet dog or cat at home?
Make no mistake: pets may bring us a lot of happiness and health benefits, but they also come with some risks. However, based on statistics and studies, the positives outweigh the risks.

Should everyone get a pet, then? Or rather, should you get a pet of your own?

Here’s a short questionnaire that can help you answer that question:

  • Do you love _____? (Insert the name of a specific type of animal.)
  • Do you have the time and energy to care for a pet?
  • Can you set aside a realistic annual budget for a pet’s needs (food, gear, vet bills, pet insurance)?
  • Does your work or lifestyle allow you to settle in one place?
  • Is your current health status compatible with having a pet at home?
  • Do you have the patience to train a pet or take “accidents” at home in stride?

If you answered “yes” to all of these questions, then you SHOULD get a pet!
You can start by looking at our listings for pets for adoption or sale. Then, head over to our blog to find valuable tips on caring for your friend!

Share this: Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Email

Hannah Mitchell

Related Stories

Does My Dog Love Me? The 4 Conditions on How Dogs Choose Their Person
Does My Dog Love Me? The 4 Conditions on How Dogs Choose Their Person
6 Essential Things to Prepare before Bringing a New Dog Home
6 Essential Things to Prepare before Bringing a New Dog Home
Dog Breeds That Can Better Tolerate Being Home Alone
Dog Breeds That Can Better Tolerate Being Home Alone
Latest Stories
  • Boston Terrier vs Pug: Which Breed Is Better for You?
  • Sings and Causes of Abnormal Dog Behaviour
  • Psychic Cat Comforts Over 100 Grieving Families
  • Weimaraner vs Vizsla: Differences and Similarities
  • Are Boston Terrier Good Pets?
  • Awful Dog Odour: Reasons Why Your Dog Smells and Ways to Prevent It
  • Japanese Cat Temple Café Hires Cat Priests
  • Featured Story

    Boston Terrier vs Pug: Which Breed Is Better for You?
    Boston Terrier vs Pug: Which Breed Is Better for You?

    Boston Terrier vs Pug—both flat-faced and bulky-bodied breeds may seem like brothers along with their other lookalike, the French Bulldog. But … [Read More...]

    Latest Pets for Sale
    5
    Pomeranian Online Listings
    Mini pomeranian puppy or sale

    London

    2,500

    4
    Boxers for Rehoming
    Kc registered boxers puppies

    Leicester

    3,000

    2
    Guinea Pig For Sale in the UK
    Peruvian guinea pig boys for sale

    30

    3
    Cockapoos for Rehoming
    Chocolate cockapoos for sale

    Melton Mowbray

    3,000

    View All
    Post Pet Advertisements
    For Free!
    Sign Up Now
    UK Pets Tools Dogs
    • Dog Breed Selector Quiz
    • Dog Breeds (A-Z)
    • Dog Breed Groups
    • Compare Dog Breeds
    • Dog Names
    Cats
    • Cat Breed Selector Quiz
    • Cat Breeds (A-Z)
    • Compare Cat Breeds
    • Cat Names
       Services
    •    Pet Sitters
    •    Pet Transport
    •    Pet portraits
    •    Pet Cremation
    •    Dog Walker
    •    Dog Training
    •    Dog Grooming
    •    Dog Photography
    •    Dog Kennels
    •    Hydrotherapy For Dogs
    •    Catteries
    Dogs & Puppies for Sale
    • Mixed Breed Dogs & Puppies for Sale
    • French Bulldogs for Sale
    • Cocker Spaniels for Sale
    • Cockapoos for Sale
    • Labrador Retrievers for Sale
    • Chihuahuas for Sale
    Cats & Kittens for Sale
    • Mixed Breed Cats & Kittens for Sale
    • British Shorthair Cats & Kittens for Sale
    • Bengal Cats & Kittens for Sale
    • Sphynx Cats & Kittens for Sale
    • Ragdoll Cats & Kittens for Sale
    • Maine Coon Cats & Kittens for Sale
    Other Pets for Sale
    • Birds for Sale
    • Rabbits for Sale
    ukpets logo
    • About Us
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy & Cookie Usage
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Pet Insurance
    • Post Free Pet Ads
    Copyright © 2021 UKPets. All rights reserved.