Prescription dogs will reduce heart rate, stress, loneliness
As family support wanes, seniors could swap drugs for dogs

Stuart Hunter, The Province
Published: Wednesday, December 21, 2005

"Pat two puppies and call me in the morning."

Renowned dog expert Stanley Coren peered into the future for the University of B.C.'s Next Big Thing in 2006 look-ahead and he saw prescription pets -- particularly for the elderly -- on the horizon.

"It might, in fact, be beneficial for physicians to actually prescribe that an individual, who fits certain categories, especially this elderly category, that it might be beneficial for them to actually prescribe that they have a dog," Coren, the author of How Dogs Think, said yesterday.

"The sense that we are beginning to get is that having a dog as a pet may fill all those social support slots which we no longer have filled because we don't have the extended family support we used to have."

Coren cited studies which show that if a person pats a dog that is familiar, they experience reduced heart rate, a decrease in breathing rate and a relaxation of muscle tension -- all signs of destressing.

And those prone to social isolation, like the elderly, benefit most.

"Those who are socially isolated require fewer medical services if they have the companionship of a dog and are only one-seventh as likely to become clinically depressed," said Coren.

"This whole idea of dogs for therapy has been gradually creeping into our consciousness."

Coren said another study showed couples with a dog are less likely to split up.

"The next thing you know there are going to be marriage counsellors prescribing dogs as well."

And sorry, cat people, but dogs appear to better for your health.

"Cats also provide an advantage but not as great an advantage," Coren said. "The reason is dogs are more social than cats and the key to this is that social interchange."

Coren suggested smaller dogs like the Papillon for the elderly, but when it comes to prescription pups, size doesn't matter.

- In another prediction, computer science professor Alan Mackworth said we will soon have conscious cars that are aware of their surroundings and can run on auto-pilot.