Media contacts:
Janet Christenbury, Emory Media Relations, janet.christenbury@emoryhealthcare.org
Toni Hare, The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine Media Relations, hare.48@osu.edu
The human-animal bond is often so strong, pet owners may delay or forgo medical treatment or leave a healthcare facility against medical advice – if they have no one to care for their pet at home. A recent perspective paper published in the New England Journal of Medicine explains why pet owners may need different approaches to care addressed when hospitalized, according to an Emory University physician and Ohio State University veterinarian.
Reshma Jagsi, MD, DPhil , the Lawrence W. Davis Professor and Chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology at Emory University, and Rustin Moore, DVM, PhD , Rita Jean Wolfe Endowed Dean, College of Veterinary Medicine at The Ohio State University, engaged in a first-time conversation while at a conference earlier this year. In her presentation, Jagsi spoke about her appreciation of veterinary medicine when her Goldendoodle Daisy became seriously ill last year. Daisy has since recovered. That led Moore to inquire if pets are brought into the conversation when someone is hospitalized.
“We started talking about how caring for animals is such an important part of the core identity of many human patients and yet is often overlooked by physicians,” says Jagsi. “We discussed the interdependency of human and animal health and realized that we had complementary perspectives on a challenge that is seen in human patients, but with limited solutions.”
“From that conversation came the idea for this manuscript: to raise awareness among human healthcare providers about the importance and impact of the human–animal bond and to encourage healthcare systems to embrace a more complete concept of family-centered care — one that recognizes that, for millions of people, family includes pets,” says Moore.
Surveys show that about two-thirds of U.S. households include at least one pet. Nearly all pet owners consider their pets to be a part of their family, with about half indicating that they are as much so as human members, according to the researchers. Research has shown that pet companions contribute to reduced stress, increased physical activity, improved cardiovascular outcomes, enhanced emotional stability and social connection in their humans. Pets also depend on their owners for their care.
“When people become seriously ill, their animals do not suddenly become less important. In many cases, the bond becomes even more consequential,” says Moore. “However, illness and hospitalization can abruptly disrupt access to that relationship creating two interconnected concerns: the welfare of the animal and the wellbeing of the person.”
“Yet these critical relationships are rarely discussed or considered in clinical care, leading to missed opportunities to improve patients’ health or misinterpretation of decisions that are constrained by competing obligations to patients’ pets,” Jagsi notes. The researchers highlight the disconnect occurs because relevant questions about pet responsibilities are rarely asked in the healthcare setting.
Asking about patients’ pets or companion animals can strengthen the clinician-patient relationship, leading to improved communication, greater patient openness and disclosure of responsibilities that may shape how patients make decisions, the authors write. Proactive screening and coordinated support of pet care while patients are hospitalized aligns with addressing social determinants of care, which could lead to a practical, patient-centered approach to improve adherence and continuity of care. A single question could then trigger referral to case management or social work to assist in removing barriers for care.
“For those of us who are physicians, it’s a foregone opportunity not only to facilitate care but to build bonds with our patients—it’s such a simple thing to include information about pets in the medical record,” says Jagsi. “Pet ownership is an important element of the social history for so many people.”
While recognizing the importance of keeping people and their animals together, implementation of efforts remains fragmented. The researchers note that collaborations between health systems and local animal shelters, rescue organizations, veterinarians, social service agencies, foster networks and other nonprofit organizations could assist with coordination of temporary animal care for the humans who are ill and their pet companions in need, leading to improved outcomes for both humans and animals.
“At its core, we are advocating for a broader vision of total family care,” explains Moore. “If a patient considers an animal part of their family — and that relationship materially affects their wellbeing and healthcare decisions — then our systems should at least recognize the relationship, ask about it and have pathways to help when that bond is disrupted by illness.” Moore is the proud pet parent of three rescued black miniature schnauzers named Teddy, Travis and Tucker.
Jagsi, who is also a part of Emory Healthcare and Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, now routinely asks her patients about pet ownership, in hopes of reducing barriers to healthcare access.
She states, “Caring for animals is perhaps one of the most essential aspects of what makes us human; human medicine must no longer ignore that.”
Moore could not agree more. “If we truly aspire to provide compassionate, patient- and family-centered healthcare, we should recognize the family as the patient defines it. And for millions of people, that family member has four legs, a name and is someone waiting for them at home.”
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New England Journal of Medicine
Commentary/editorial
Human–Animal Bonds as Social Determinants of Health Care Access
29-Aug-2026