When a Doctor Says “The Dog Must Go," Do People Comply? |
Evidence has shown that living with dogs provides both psychological and physiological benefits.
Unfortunately, a sizable number of people have allergic responses to dogs.
If allergies are sufficiently, severe physicians may dictate that a dog be removed from the patient’s home.
Data indicates that when doctors tell allergic patients to get rid of their dogs, the majority do not comply.
Generally speaking, the scientific data suggests that dogs are good for you. The psychological data is clear with many studies suggesting, for instance, that living with a dog can improve mental health and stave off the cognitive decline associated with aging. There are also positive physiological effects, in that dogs reduce the likelihood of diseases related to stress; a task force of the American Heart Association reported that owning a dog may protect you from heart disease.
A Potential Problem With Pet Ownership
However, there is a possible physiological downside to owning dogs. A study in the United States found that 11.8% of the population showed some allergic sensitivity to dogs, or at least to some of the molecular components one might inhale when sharing a home with a dog. The symptoms may simply be in the form of mild respiratory difficulties, such as sneezing, runny nose, and watery eyes, but in some individuals, problems can ramp up to include asthmatic symptoms, like bouts of coughing and shortness of breath.
If the symptoms are severe enough, a medical practitioner may recommend that the dog owner remove the pet dog from their........