Fido's No Doctor. Neither is Whiskers

Various studies suggest that the companionship provided by pets to their owners has a direct, beneficial effect on the health and happiness of the owners. Specifically, owning a pet has been linked to lower blood pressure, less depression, lower cholesterol, better sleep habits, and fewer sick days than non-owners. However, other research studies show the opposite including a 2006 Pew Research Center report which found that living with a pet did not make people any happier. Additionally, a 2000 Australian study found no evidence that pet owners lived longer than anyone else, and in 2010, Dutch researchers concluded that companion animals had no effect on their owners' physical or mental well-being. Furthermore a 2006 report from Finland found that pet owners were more likely than non-owners to suffer from certain diseases including sciatica, kidney disease, arthritis, migraines, panic attacks, high blood pressure and depression.

In sum, additional research and information is needed to positively conclude that pets have a positive medical effect upon their owners.