A Caregiver's Companion

Looking after a disabled loved one can be extremely stressful, so it's natural to occasionally wonder, "Who is taking care of me?" The answer may be wagging its tail at your feet, research suggests.

Caregivers with dogs may have built-in support systems, says Karen Allen, Ph.D., an assistant professor of medicine at the State University of New York in Buffalo. Allen studied 60 men and women who were caring for a spouse suffering from traumatic brain injury—an emotionally demanding situation because the victim may no longer be able to behave or function normally. All of the caregivers had hypertension—stress-related increases in blood pressure and heart rate—and half were asked to adopt a dog from a local animal shelter.

For six months, both groups wore ambulatory blood pressure monitors while taking care of and interacting with their spouses and new pets. At the study's completion, Allen learned that the caregivers with dogs had significantly reduced blood pressure and heart rate levels compared with those with no pets. Her findings, presented at an annual Society for Psychophysiological Research meeting, demonstrate a therapeutic role for pet dogs, suggesting that they help alleviate stress and its accompanying symptoms.

"It's the presence of someone who you're really attached to, who you know is always on your side," Allen explains. "Dogs are great—they're never evaluative, they just love you no matter what."