"Social support" matters most for dog youthspan

What's the news: Social support is 5x more important for dog youthspan than financial factors.

Why should we believe it: This news is based on a study published in May by scientists from Arizona State University. They looked at 21,400 dogs, and they controlled for a bunch of different things such as the owner's income, the owner's age, and the dog's age. Results:

1. Financial and household adversity were associated with poorer health and lower mobility in dogs

2. Social support was associated with better health and greater mobility in dogs

3. The effects of social support were 5x as large as those of financial factors

What counts as social support? Primarily, other dogs in the household. But regular contact with other loving animals – humans, even cats — also contributed to dog health.

Why this is a big deal: Many people love dogs — thank you — so this is good news on its own. Beyond that, humans share much of evolutionary history and environment with dogs. That’s why there’s good reason to believe that dogs can accurately show us which longevity interventions are significant and effective in humans as well.

So what specifically can you do now: This dog study is far from the first bit of evidence that social connection, and being integrated into the community, is important for health and longevity. If this dog study tells us anything new, it's just how important social support is.

So reach out to your friends, family, or your mailman. It’s good for you, it’s good for them — and it doesn’t cost a thing.