A propósito de la celebración del «Día nacional de amar a tu mascota» en Estados Unidos —que se celebra el 20 de febrero— tenemos algunos datos sorprendentes sobre los beneficios de tener mascotas en casa.

On the occasion of the celebration of "National Day to Love Your Pet" in the United States - which is celebrated on February 20 - we have some surprising facts about the benefits of having pets at home.

In celebration of "National Love Your Pet Day" in the United States - celebrated on February 20 - we have some surprising facts about the benefits of having pets at home.

Para mí y millones más, tener una mascota trae un círculo de amor a nuestras vidas: dan afecto, nosotros lo devolvemos y todos somos mejores para eso.

For me and millions more, having a pet brings a circle of love into our lives: they give affection, we give it back, and we are all better at it.

For me and millions more, having a pet brings a circle of love into our lives: they give affection, we return it and we are all the better for it.

«Tengo una lista de 10 beneficios para la salud [que] los estudios han demostrado que los dueños de mascotas tienen», dijo el psicólogo Harold Herzog, un profesor amante de las mascotas en la Universidad de Western Carolina que ha estudiado durante mucho tiempo la conexión entre humanos y animales.

"I have a list of 10 health benefits [that] studies have shown pet owners have," said psychologist Harold Herzog, a pet-loving professor at Western Carolina University who has long studied the connection between humans and animals.

"I have a list of 10 health benefits [that] studies have shown pet owners have," said psychologist Harold Herzog, a pet-loving professor at Western Carolina University who has long studied the human-animal connection.

Herzog también señala estudios que encontraron que los dueños de mascotas «tienen más probabilidades de estar solos, deprimidos y tener ataques de pánico, más probabilidades de tener asma, obesidad, presión arterial alta, úlceras gástricas, dolores de cabeza por migraña, y usar más medicina, etcétera».

Herzog also points to studies that found that pet owners "are more likely to be lonely, depressed, and have panic attacks, more likely to have asthma, obesity, high blood pressure, gastric ulcers, migraine headaches, and use more. medicine, etcetera.

Herzog also points to studies that found pet owners "are more likely to be lonely, depressed and have panic attacks, more likely to have asthma, obesity, high blood pressure, gastric ulcers, migraine headaches, and use more medicine, and so on."

Así es. A pesar del hecho de que estamos convencidos de las bendiciones que nuestros bebés peludos traen a nuestras vidas, la ciencia aún no ha demostrado definitivamente que las mascotas sean buenas para nuestra salud.

That's right. Despite the fact that we are convinced of the blessings that our furry babies bring into our lives, science has yet to definitively prove that pets are good for our health.

That's right. Despite the fact that we are convinced of the blessings our furry babies bring to our lives, science has yet to definitively prove that pets are good for our health.

«Estamos descubriendo que es un poco más complicado de lo que pensábamos originalmente», agregó.» Siempre digo que no es una gran pregunta: ‘¿Son nuestras mascotas buenas para nosotros?'»

"We are finding that it is a bit more complicated than we originally thought," he added. " I always say it's not a big question: 'Are our pets good for us?' "

"We're finding it's a little more complicated than we originally thought," he added." I always say it's not a great question: 'Are our pets good for us?'"

Los dueños de mascotas ciertamente creen que sus mascotas brindan apoyo emocional, especialmente en momentos de estrés, dijo Mueller, y afortunadamente la ciencia parece respaldar eso.

Pet owners certainly believe that their pets provide emotional support, especially in times of stress, Mueller said, and luckily science seems to back that up.

Pet owners certainly believe their pets provide emotional support, especially in times of stress, Mueller said, and fortunately the science seems to back that up.

«Los estudios han demostrado repetidamente que el buen humor de las personas aumenta y el mal humor disminuye alrededor de las mascotas», dijo Herzog. «Y sabemos que hay beneficios inmediatos a corto plazo, fisiológicos y psicológicos, al interactuar con las mascotas. No tengo ninguna duda al respecto».

"Studies have repeatedly shown that people's good spirits increase and bad moods decrease around pets," Herzog said. And we know that there are immediate short-term physiological and psychological benefits to interacting with pets. I have no doubt about that.

"Studies have repeatedly shown that people's good moods increase and bad moods decrease around pets," Herzog said. "And we know there are immediate short-term physiological and psychological benefits to interacting with pets. I have no doubt about that."

Herzog realizó 30 estudios sobre el tema: Dieciocho no mostraron diferencias en las tasas de depresión entre las personas con mascotas y las que no; cinco concluyeron que tener una mascota alivió los síntomas depresivos; se encontró que cinco mascotas empeoraron la depresión; y el resto no fueron concluyentes.

Herzog conducted°30 studies°on the subject: Eighteen showed no difference in depression rates between people with pets and those without pets; five concluded that having a pet alleviated depressive symptoms; Five pets were found to make depression worse; and the rest were inconclusive.

Herzog conducted 30 studies on the subject: eighteen showed no difference in rates of depression between people with pets and those without; five concluded that having a pet relieved depressive symptoms; five pets were found to worsen depression; and the rest were inconclusive.

Una de las razones por las que la ciencia es tan dudosa sobre el tema de las mascotas y nuestra salud es que es casi imposible llevar a cabo el «estándar de oro» de los estudios: un ensayo controlado aleatorio donde el investigador controla todos los factores y luego al azar asigna una mascota al grupo de prueba.

One of the reasons why science is so dubious about the subject of pets and our health is that it is almost impossible to carry out the "golden standard" of studies: a randomized controlled trial where the researcher controls all the factors and then randomly assigns a pet to the test group.

One of the reasons science is so dubious on the subject of pets and our health is that it is nearly impossible to conduct the "gold standard" of studies: a randomized controlled trial where the investigator controls for all factors and then randomly assigns a pet to the test group.

Respaldado por una asociación de 9 millones de dólares entre la Rama de Desarrollo y Comportamiento Infantil del Instituto Nacional de Salud de Estados Unidos y el Instituto de Ciencias de Cuidado de Mascotas Waltham del Reino Unido, algunos investigadores han comenzado a diseñar mejores estudios para determinar si son los animales los que tienen el impacto.

Backed by a $ 9 million partnership between the Child Development and Behavior Branch of the US National Institute of Health and the UK Waltham Institute of Pet Grooming Sciences, some researchers have begun to design better studies to determine whether it's the animals that have the impact.

Backed by a $9 million partnership between the Child Development and Behavior Branch of the U.S. National Institute of Health and the Waltham Institute of Pet Care Sciences in the United Kingdom, some researchers have begun to design better studies to determine whether it is the animals that are having the impact.

Un estudio aleatorio de cuatro meses de duración realizado en la Universidad de Vanderbilt en Nashville proporcionó a los niños acceso a perros de terapia justo antes de someterse a un tratamiento contra el cáncer. Todos los niños lo disfrutaron, pero no hubo una disminución en los niveles de ansiedad entre los niños en el grupo de prueba y los del grupo de control.

A°four-month-long randomized study°conducted at Vanderbilt University in Nashville°provided children°with access to therapy dogs just before undergoing cancer treatment. All the children enjoyed it, but there was no decrease in anxiety levels between the children in the test group and those in the control group.

A four-month randomized study conducted at Vanderbilt University in Nashville provided children with access to therapy dogs just prior to undergoing cancer treatment. All the children enjoyed it, but there was no decrease in anxiety levels between the children in the test group and those in the control group.

Otro método de investigación que se está utilizando, dijo Mueller, son los estudios longitudinales, en los que se sigue a un gran número de personas durante largos períodos de tiempo. La esperanza es que estos estudios, y los experimentos más diseñados científicamente, descubrirán razones más precisas de por qué una mascota en particular podría, o no, ser una buena opción para una persona y sus necesidades.

Another research method being used, Mueller said, is longitudinal studies, in which large numbers of people are followed over long periods of time. The hope is that these studies, and the more scientifically designed experiments, will uncover more precise reasons why a particular pet might, or might not, be a good fit for a person and their needs.

Another research method being used, Mueller said, is longitudinal studies, in which large numbers of people are followed over long periods of time. The hope is that these studies, and more scientifically designed experiments, will uncover more precise reasons why a particular pet might, or might not, be a good fit for a person and his or her needs.

Tal vez finalmente tengamos datos para poner detrás del debate «gato contra perro», o simplemente cómo y por qué un pájaro, pez, lagarto o jerbo podría calmar nuestro estrés y brindar compañía.

Perhaps we finally have data to put behind the "cat versus dog" debate, or simply how and why a bird, fish, lizard, or gerbil could ease our stress and provide companionship.

Perhaps we finally have data to put behind the "cat vs. dog" debate, or simply how and why a bird, fish, lizard or gerbil might soothe our stress and provide companionship.