OnePack Plan™ Presents: The Hidden Health Benefits of Your Pet: Maximizing Wellness and Lowering Healthcare Costs Through Pet Companionship
That wave of calm you feel when petting your dog or cat isn't just your imagination—it's scientifically proven stress relief in action.
The most surprising part? Most pet owners only scratch the surface of these benefits. They're missing out on simple techniques that could transform their daily pet interactions into powerful wellness practices.
In this guide, you'll discover how to intentionally tap into your pet's wellness-boosting potential, backed by evidence and practical strategies you can implement today.
Jump to:
- The science of pets’ effects on our health
- Physical wellness through pet companionship
- Mental health—your pet as your stress management partner
- How to maximize these benefits in your daily life
- Supporting your wellness journey through pet benefits
- A simple action plan you can put into practice right now
Want to learn how your pet can improve your workday? Download The Pet Effect: How Pet Parenting Boosts Employee Wellness and Can Lower Healthcare Costs to explore the research behind pet-friendly workplaces and discover practical ways to integrate your pet into your daily routine for better wellness and productivity.
The science of pets’ effects on our health
The power of pet companionship starts all the way down at the molecular level. Studies have found that just three minutes with your dog releases oxytocin—the “bonding hormone”—which reduces stress and boosts emotional well-being.
These effects aren’t fleeting; they translate into real health outcomes:
But to fully understand how to maximize these benefits, it helps to look at both the physical and mental health advantages of pet companionship.
Let’s quickly break it down in simple terms.
Physical wellness through pet companionship
Everyday pet care naturally encourages healthy routines that build over time.
Regularly walking pets has been associated with dramatically lower obesity rates in dog owners—17% compared to 28% for non-walking owners.
This difference isn't just about weight; it reflects broader improvements in heart health and overall physical wellness, too! The American Heart Association has found the connection so compelling that they've issued an official scientific statement acknowledging that dog ownership is "probably associated with decreased risk of cardiovascular disease."
Even light activities—playing with a cat or feeding routines—boost daily movement. Nearly half of pet owners credit their pets with keeping them active, replacing sedentary habits with moments of movement.
These physical benefits extend into measurable health outcomes:
Research shows that people who interact regularly with pets experience lower heart rates during stressful situations and show improved cardiovascular responses. The effects are both immediate and long-lasting—regular interaction with pets has been associated with lower blood pressure and reduced risk factors for heart disease.
Mental health—your pet as your stress management partner
Beyond physical activity, pets provide crucial emotional support throughout your day. Whether you're working from home or in a pet-friendly office, regular interaction with your pet can help regulate stress responses and improve your mood.
As mentioned earlier, just three minutes with a dog triggers stress-reducing hormonal changes. This quick reset can help regulate your stress response throughout the day.
The impact on workplace wellness is particularly noteworthy:
Research from the American Heart Association shows that 70% of employed pet owners report they would be happier and more productive if they could have their pet at work with them. This isn't surprising, considering that the AHA also finds that nearly all pet parents rely on their pets for stress relief. The effect is so significant that 81% of HR professionals we surveyed with the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) now recognize pets' ability to improve the mental health of their employees.
These benefits become especially valuable during challenging times. During periods of stress or isolation, pets provide consistent emotional support and maintain routine. They help regulate daily schedules, provide social interaction, and offer unconditional acceptance—all contributing to better mental health outcomes. The emotional support is practical too: pet owners report a better ability to handle work-related stress and improved work-life balance when they can incorporate pet interaction into their day.
The mental health advantages extend beyond stress reduction:
Pet owners report improved mood, decreased feelings of loneliness, and enhanced sense of purpose. In workplace settings, companies that allow pets in the office see improved employee morale (78% of cases), enhanced employee satisfaction (70%), and better collaboration (54%).
How to maximize these benefits in your daily life
Understanding these benefits is just the first step—the key is learning how to intentionally incorporate them into your routine.
- If you work from home, try scheduling short pet breaks throughout your day. These moments of connection benefit your pet and serve as natural stress reset points for you. Even three minutes of focused interaction can trigger the beneficial hormonal changes that help manage stress levels.
- For office workers, many companies are recognizing the value of pet-friendly policies. About 30% of organizations now allow pets in the office, according to a recent survey of HR professionals4, while others offer flexible scheduling to accommodate pet care needs. If you need to make a case for more flexibility, point out that these policies aren't just about convenience—they can help the team access the documented wellness benefits of the human-animal bond during the workday.
Supporting your wellness journey through pet benefits
To fully realize the health benefits we've been talking about, one of the first steps is removing the barriers that often prevent us from maximizing our pets’ positive impact on our wellness.
Think about it: Financial stress about pet care can potentially diminish your ability to fully experience the stress-reducing benefits of pet ownership. When you're worried about affording veterinary care or postponing preventive treatments, it may be harder to fully relax and enjoy the documented mental health advantages of the human-animal bond.
This is where we’ve found that workplace pet insurance benefits create a powerful opportunity. Modern pet insurance programs have evolved far beyond simple emergency coverage—they're now wellness partners that align naturally with your overall health goals.
The impact of this approach is clear in the data:
Research we did with HABRI found that 84% of employees at companies offering pet insurance report higher job satisfaction, and 82% express greater satisfaction with their overall benefits package.
Programs like OnePack Plan™ take this integration even further by working seamlessly with your other workplace benefits. Just as your health insurance helps you focus on wellness instead of worrying about medical costs, OnePack Plan helps remove the financial barriers to proactive pet care.
The program includes features specifically designed to support the wellness benefits we've discussed:
- First, preventive care coverage encourages regular veterinary visits and early intervention—supporting both your pet's health and your peace of mind. When you know routine care is covered, you're naturally more likely to maintain consistent pet care routines that contribute to those documented health benefits.
- Second, 24/7 veterinary telehealth means you're never alone in making pet health decisions. This around-the-clock access to professional guidance reduces stress in two ways: providing immediate answers when you're worried about your pet's health and helping you avoid unnecessary emergency visits. Think of it as having a pet health expert in your pocket—ready to help maintain the positive wellness routines you've established with your pet.
- Third, prescription benefits and discount programs remove financial barriers to maintaining your pet's health. Just as you wouldn't want to skip your own necessary medications due to cost concerns, these benefits help you provide consistent care for your pet, supporting the stable, stress-free environment that makes pet ownership so beneficial for human health.
“OnePack Plan also simplifies the financial aspects through payroll deduction options and integration with your company’s existing benefits systems. That means less time worrying about pet care logistics and more time focusing on the interactions that drive those positive health outcomes.” — Jon Snell, VP of Business Development at PetPartners
A simple action plan you can put into practice right now
Ready to enhance your wellness journey through pet companionship? Start by:
- Treating your pet interactions as intentional practices that benefit both of you. Intentional connection with your pet can lower stress in as little as three minutes. Start your morning with 5–10 minutes of undistracted time with your pet. Use breaks for quick bonding moments, and design an evening ritual to signal relaxation—like an after-dinner walk or quiet playtime.
- Turning pet care into active self-care. Replace a sedentary habit with pet activity—such as taking a brisk walk instead of scrolling on your phone. Experiment with movement-based games that engage both you and your pet, like hide-and-seek or agility training.
- Re-imagining your workspace for pet-inspired productivity. If your workplace allows pets, introduce a gradual plan to bring your pet to the office, focusing on mutual comfort. For remote work, create a designated “pet zone” near your workspace and take brief breaks for interaction during lulls in focus.
- Making pet wellness financially stress-free. Worrying about pet care costs can undermine the very wellness benefits pets provide. Explore employer-offered pet insurance options like OnePack Plan. Look for features like preventive care coverage, telehealth access, and payroll integration to streamline care and reduce stress.
Ask yourself not just how your pet supports you but how you can deepen this relationship to achieve better physical, mental, and emotional health. With intentional effort and the right support (like pet insurance), you and your pet can create a shared wellness journey that benefits you both.
Want to learn more about supporting your wellness journey through pet benefits? Download our comprehensive report on The Pet Effect, or visit OnePackPlan.PetPartners.com to explore pet insurance options available through your workplace.
The Pet Effect: How Pet Parenting Boosts Employee Wellness and Can Lower Healthcare Costs
Discover how pet ownership can improve your health, reduce stress, and even lower healthcare costs. Our new report offers science-backed insights and practical tips to help you integrate your pet into your daily routine for better wellness and balance.
This is a powerful reminder that the love we feel for our pets is more than emotional—it’s deeply physiological and profoundly beneficial to our health. I especially appreciated the emphasis on intentionality—transforming everyday moments with our pets into purposeful wellness rituals. It's eye-opening to see how simple acts like a three-minute connection or a quick walk can have measurable impacts on our stress levels, heart health, and even productivity. The OnePack Plan approach to pet insurance is also a smart, holistic way to align our wellness with our pet’s health needs. When financial worries are removed, we can enjoy the companionship pets offer. Thank you for highlighting such a meaningful, evidence-based perspective on the human-animal bond. It’s not just a feel-good topic—it’s a strategic one for employee well-being.