Our Love for Animals: Is it Chemistry?

Some research scientists say that dog owners may feel the same depth of emotion while looking at their dog as mothers experience with their infants. According to the Daily Mail Reporter, Mail Online, in a recent trial they discovered that dog owners experienced a burst of oxytocin, a hormone known as the "cuddle chemical or "love drug", while playing with their pets. This hormone has been found to lessen stress in humans and also build trust.

Miho Nagasawa and Takefumi Kikusui from Azuba University in Japan, both biologists, were inspired by their own experiences to do a research project on the subject. Mr. Kikusui told "New Scientist", "Miho and I are big dog lovers and feel something changed in our bodies when gazed (upon) by our dogs."

Recruiting 55 dog owners and their pets, they tested urine samples before and after a thirty minute play session in their laboratory. Some of the owners were placed in a control group and were instructed to simply sit in the room and completely avoid any contact with their pets. The group that connected with their pets rated their relationship as far more satisfying than the group who had no contact.

I found it fascinating that the control group demonstrated a slight drop in their oxytocin levels. Mr. Kikusui believes that the "cuddle chemical" may explain how depression and anxiety may be lifted by playing with a dog. The research scientists added that "oxytocin may have even contributed to the domestication of dogs from wolves, about 15,000 years ago. Mr. Kikusui continued, "Maybe during the evolutionary process, humans and dogs came to share the same social cues', such as eye contact and hand gestures. This is why dogs can adapt to human society."

So maybe this experiments proves that there is really something substantive about the chemical nature of contact with animals which adds not only to the pleasure derived from sharing our homes and hearts with pets, but also one which may prove useful in the treatment of depression and anxiety.

I would be thrilled to have my physician write me out a prescription for a puppy or kitten. I think this is a much more delightful and safer addiction.

Do you think that physicians would consider prescribing a pet to treat a patient? Leave a comment and share your thoughts.