Fact or fiction: Pets save us when it comes to health care costs?

We know pets make us happier and may bring health care benefits to our lives. Now there’s a new claim that owning a pet saves Americans some $23 billion in health care costs annually.

Is that true?

The report by the Human-Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) suggests that pet owners go to the doctor less, which saves money. But, according to Psychology Today, the claim is based on just two studies and ignores other studies that found no significant difference in doctor visits between pet owners and non-owners.

It turns out that factors like age, sex and income play a more significant role in overall health than pet ownership itself.

The report also asserts that walking dogs saves money because it reduces medical bills and that dog walkers have lower rates of obesity, which is true. But that information also relies on one study that didn’t consider the influence of wealth and neighborhood characteristics.

Finally, the HABRI report skips over the flip side – that pet ownership brings increased medical expenses, such as the bills from falls and dog bites. Tripping over our furry friends sends about 86,000 Americans to the emergency room each year, with an average cost of $30,000 per visit. Dog bites alone rack up a hefty $4 billion annually.

While pets bring us joy and companionship, the idea that they save us billions in health care costs might be wishful thinking. That doesn’t mean we should love our pets any less!

Do you have a pet? Has it brought a spendy medical bill? Share your story here.