Jamie sits down with Mike McFarland to kick off season 2 of Wellness. They discuss the latest HABRI global study on the Human Animal Bond and the important role that pets can play in your personal wellness. Mike also provides some tips for new pet owners.
Jamie Brannan:
Hello, I'm Jamie Brannan, president Zoetis international operations. And I'd like to welcome you to the second season of my podcast, Wellness. In this podcast, I want to connect with Zoetis colleagues, the greater veterinary and animal health community, and other experts about topics around wellbeing. From understanding the positive impacts pets can have on our physical and mental wellbeing, to learning how we can better manage stress at work and find a comfortable life balance, we're continuing the conversation about how we can better look after ourselves and support each other.
Jamie Brannan:
In the last season of my podcast, I shared my personal story about my own wake up call to prioritize my fitness and wellbeing. My dog played an important role in that. Not only did Rocco get me outside in the fresh air for walks, he also created opportunities for family time together as my children often join me on the strolls. It was great to get moving together. His companionship was also especially valuable to me during the last two years of uncertainty and lockdowns.
Jamie Brannan:
I've experienced firsthand the benefits of physical and mental wellbeing a pet can have. And today I'm delighted to talk about the importance of the human animal bond to wellness with Dr. Mike McFarland, our chief medical officer here at Zoetis. Dr. McFarland is also chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Human Animal Bond Research Institute. He has a career that spans over three decades, and during that time, he's seen some big shifts in the way the human animal bond has evolved. As dogs have come from the yard to the kitchen, to the sofa, into the bedroom.
Jamie Brannan:
Mike, thanks so much for joining today. As we're talking about the benefits of the human animal bond, in my opinion, you really are one of the best authorities on this topic, from your experiences as a veterinarian to your many years in marketing and leadership roles with us as Zoetis. Just to start, could you share a little more about your background with our listeners?
Mike McFarland:
Sure, Jamie, and thanks for having me O on your podcast. I really appreciate it. I've been a veterinarian for over 35 years now. I graduated from Texas A&M University in the mid eighties and spent the next 15 years or so in clinical practice, primarily focusing on emergency medicine. Probably never would've left emergency practice where not for the fact that working nights, weekends, and holidays isn't really conducive to raising a family. If you know what I mean?
Jamie Brannan:
Yes.
Mike McFarland:
I started working for Pfizer Animal Health, I guess it was January of 2000, and that later of course became Zoetis. Along the way, I've had the opportunity to take part in multiple cross-industry educational and research initiatives. The first was IVAPM, which coincidentally is celebrating its 20th anniversary. That's the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management. As you alluded to in the introduction, I've also had a key role in HABRI over the years, which we started nearly 10 years ago, and HABRI is now contributing significantly to the world's knowledge and understanding of the science behind the human animal bond. And now I have the great fortune to serve as the chief medical officer for Zoetis on a global level. This is really literally my dream job.
Jamie Brannan:
And when you went from emergency medicine, which you say very long days, weekends, probably shifts as well involved in that. And there was this decision, bringing up a family, and perhaps for your wellbeing as well that you needed a shift. And I was just wondering with that move from emergency medicine into Pfizer, was there a conscious decision around you needed to change your sort of work patterns for you and the family or did it happen through the opportunity within Pfizer?
Mike McFarland:
When I left clinical practice, it was early 2000. It wasn't an easy decision. I loved clinical practice. I loved emergency medicine. Frankly, if I could practice emergency medicine during normal work hours, I probably never would've left practice. But as all of us have to do, is we have to find that appropriate balance between our work life and our family life. When my wife was going to work, I was coming home from work. And then when the kids came along, I was sleeping when everybody else was active and alert, and then vice versa.
Mike McFarland:
I had a decision to make, I could either go back into sort of regular clinical practice, or I could return that call that a recruiter made and see what industry is all about. And I guess I came to what felt like a fairly easy decision. I'm going to try this for a year and see if I like it. And if I don't like it, I'm going to go back to plan A, which was to open up a regular daytime practice. And my wife would be my receptionist and we'd make it a family affair. But frankly, I loved it. The longer I was in industry, the more I realized how much I enjoyed it. I've been able to do a lot of great things. And now, I'm in a position where I get to travel literally all over the world, educating veterinarians, educating pet owners, maybe making some small mark in raising the standard of care throughout the world. If I can do that, that's an awfully good way to end my career.
Jamie Brannan:
You mentioned in your intro, a number of research projects you've been involved with during your career with us at Zoetis. Probably one of the most recent has been with the Human Animal Bond Research Institute. We know that people are happier and healthier in the presence of animals, and this was confirmed in the study, but it'd be great if you could just dive into the survey results and some of the key findings that have come out of this which really resonate with wellness.
Mike McFarland:
I was actually very fortunate to be among just a handful of industry leaders that created HABRI about 10 years ago, as I mentioned earlier. And at that point in time, there was this growing acceptance that the human animal bond, wasn't just this sort of intuitive, warm and fuzzy experience filled with anecdote, but we were actually able to quantify how the interaction with pets was making life physically better for the humans that were part of that pet's life. And we realized that a central repository for all of this evidence and clinical data was needed. So we created a relationship with the Purdue medical library, and we built that repository. And I guess it was about four or five years ago that we started to fund prospective research that helped to put data behind all of that anecdote, data that might one day be used to impact policy and the continued growth of the pet care market.
Mike McFarland:
So over the years, it became very apparent that the human animal bond was not just something that we experienced in the United States and the United Kingdom, that this was something that was a very real global phenomenon. And one of the things that triggered that was that each year more and more of the research requests that we were getting were for global markets. Lots of proposals from Japan, Australia, other parts of Asia, and throughout Europe.
Mike McFarland:
So what we did is we conducted a first of its kind, largest of its kind study that looked at eight different countries that were largely representative of their region and culture, and that included the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, Japan, China, and Brazil. And frankly, the results were really surprising, primarily in their consistency, if nothing else. No matter what market we looked at, the pet owners and veterinarians were consistently aware of the human animal bond science, and their perceptions were largely equivalent across all markets.
Mike McFarland:
And I'll give you some examples of the data. 95% of pet owners globally considered pets as a part of their family. I think a lot of us going into this study felt like that might be more of a Western phenomenon, but it was just as true in Asia, just as true in Latin America. 86% would pay whatever it takes if their pet needed extensive veterinary care. 76% said they would make major life changes to benefit their pets if it was necessary. Very important is that 87% of pet owners say having a pet has positively impacted their health physically or mentally.
Mike McFarland:
An extraordinary number. It's one thing to say that your pet makes you feel good emotionally, but to have the vast majority of pet owners state that they believe owning a pet has benefited them physically and mentally is truly remarkable. And awareness of the human animal bond science is high throughout the world. It's actually highest in Brazil and China, which are two of the fastest growing pet markets. And I don't think that's a coincidence now that I've seen this data.
Jamie Brannan:
There's some really interesting stuff in there, Mike, and it's funny because we do tend to think about, is this a westernized phenomenon? And the data clearly shows it isn't. But it also shows the importance of a pet within the family, as seen as a family member. Only earlier today, I was questioned why my screensaver on my iPhone is my dog Rocco and not my kids, which I think shows how important our pets are. But this value as a family member to support our physical wellbeing, and as importantly, our mental wellbeing, I think we are just getting more and more evidence. Do you have examples of how animals are positively impacting human health and wellbeing? And perhaps you could share some examples with us.
Mike McFarland:
Look, first of all, responding to your earlier comment, as both a veterinarian and a pet owner, frankly, it's hard for me to imagine raising a family, raising kids without pets in the family. I've seen firsthand, I've seen it throughout my career as a practicing veterinarian that pets seem to make the family whole, and they frequently are the glue within the family, and the early childhood development opportunities, and I think the data strongly supports that. We refer to this, I think, collectively as, quote unquote, the pet effect, that interacting with a pet can typically increase physiologic levels of oxytocin. Dopamine is another feel good hormone that tends to increase during positive interactions with a pet. And obviously dopamine, as we know, is a key point of focus for resolving a lot of depressive disorders.
Mike McFarland:
Now, what does that look like in given conditions? So probably some of the more exciting research that's been completed lately has been in post traumatic stress disorder or PTSD. PTSD service members with a service dog experienced improved symptoms, including reduced levels of depression and improved quality of life, physiologic wellbeing overall, and just general satisfaction in life and resiliency. This is a really, really important study that was completed by Dr. Maggie O'Hare and Purdue. And one of the importance of the study findings is it led to the Veterans Affairs Administration to more seriously considering providing service dogs to PTSD veterans as an important contributor to their therapy.
Mike McFarland:
Another area that I've found very exciting is early childhood development and autism. We've shown in a variety of different studies that autistic children or children that are on the spectrum increase social functioning as a result of their work with animals, increased social awareness, increased social interaction, decreased feelings of social isolation, increased social motivation, and increased social skills and behaviors. Pets in general can also just decrease the level of stress in families of ASD children.
Mike McFarland:
So that's just a couple of examples, but I think very, very important examples and areas where I know there is a strong desire to explore much more deeply. And I think what we're going to see in the not too distant future is large multi-centered studies that will show once and for all that pets should be a therapeutic option in addition to just being a generally good thing to have be part of your family.
Jamie Brannan:
There's some amazing results there and some great examples. And the phrase the pet effect, it makes me wonder when we get to the point where we should have prescription animals in terms of how do we support people's mental health and wellbeing. So Mike, talking to you or thinking about you personally, about the pet effect, what pets do you have and how do they support your wellbeing?
Mike McFarland:
Yeah, Jamie, it's a kind of interesting question for me because I grew up in the military. My dad was Career Air Force. I moved constantly, and so it was a little difficult and cumbersome for us to have pets, especially in those frequent move days, but finally had a chance to move off base, and I lived in a house for the first time in my life instead of a military apartment. And I remember that day, well, I think it was my 15th birthday, where I got a pet. I got a black Labrador retriever, and this was the first time in my life that I ever had a pet that was mine to raise, to train and to take care of. And to this day, I consider that one of the very happiest days of my life. And I just never really looked back from there.
Mike McFarland:
I ended up with multiple dogs, cats. I had five horses by the time we finally left Southern California. And now with my family, they've always been an important part of my family's life. We had two cats when the kids were born. And at one point, we had two cats and two dogs, and we still have dogs. And it's hard for me, frankly, to imagine that I'll ever not have a pet.
Jamie Brannan:
So how often do you try and get out walking with the dogs? I know we have busy lives, and sometimes we need a bit of help with the walking, but do you find that a great time to get out, think about some things?
Mike McFarland:
Look, I love to hike. I think you know that about me, Jamie.
Jamie Brannan:
Yeah.
Mike McFarland:
I'm a big hiker. It's not uncommon for me to go out for six to 10 mile power walks, especially when the days start getting a little bit longer, and the dogs typically come with me. And I'm also very fortunate that I live on about four and a half, five acres and heavily wooded lot, and the dogs go outside with me regularly to chase the deer and patrol the property borders, so they get me out of the house more regularly, especially during this time with the global pandemic, and we were all stuck in home offices. It was great to be with the dogs all day, every day. And whenever I had a break, taking that opportunity to get outside in the sunshine and play with the dogs for a little bit, it really had a significant help on my mental health as that cabin fever inevitably struck.
Jamie Brannan:
Getting that time away from whether it's the Zoom call or whatever you're doing at work, just to get that fresh air, switch off and feel that pet effect. Like you say, that feeling of companionship is something that I know was usually important to me through the lockdowns. So I can't have our chief medical officer on the phone without trying to get some advice for our listeners around getting a pet. So the HABRI study, the anecdotal evidence shows the positive benefits, but it's a commitment. Having a pet is a commitment, and it'd be great just to get a bit of advice from you on any of our listeners who are thinking about getting a pet on what they need to think about before they make that great move.
Mike McFarland:
I appreciate you asking this question because I see a lot of very common mistakes that are made here. So getting a pet is an important decision and it should never be an impulse buy. That's the most common mistake that I hear new pet owners. The home's not ready. Nothing's really prepared. They haven't really thought it through, and that's typically going to be a prescription for disappointment. So I think when you make that decision, you need to do your homework. What kind of lifestyle do you have and how is your pet going to fit into that lifestyle?
Mike McFarland:
So, for example, if you're a super active person who goes running every day, hiking every day, and you want your dog to come with you, then maybe a Yorkie or a bulldog is not the right choice for you. Likewise, if you live in a tiny apartment and you work 10 hours a day, getting an Australian Shepherd or a border collie or blue heeler, probably not a good choice for you. These are dogs that need a job. They're extremely smart. If you don't give them a job, they're going to make up a job, and you're not going to like the job that they decide to make up.
Mike McFarland:
So you got to make sure that you do a little bit of homework and then be prepared when you bring that pet home food bowl needs to be there, water bowl needs to be there, a place for them to sleep. If they haven't been house trained yet, then you need a crate or an air kennel of some type, because kennel training is probably the fastest, easiest, and least stressful way to house break a puppy. So all of that stuff should be prepared and ready to go.
Mike McFarland:
And then the last and most important advice I can give is see a veterinarian as quickly as reasonably possible after you adopt that new pet, preferably within three days, but at the very least within the first week that you own that pet see a veterinarian, especially if it's a young puppy. You want to check for genetic challenges, infectious diseases, and most importantly, make sure that you're following through on any preventative medicine recommendations, vaccines, parasite control, things like that.
Mike McFarland:
And another option for a potential new pet owner might be fostering. And this is something that happened a great deal during the early days of the pandemic. A lot of the shelters started to empty with people fostering pets while they were home working out of their home offices. Fostering can be a great way for someone who's a little naive about pets to get an initial experience with them. They're typically youngest dogs, and it gives you an opportunity to maybe experiment with different species, dogs, cats, et cetera, different breeds of dogs and cats, and get comfortable with how the presence of a pet is going to change your lifestyle, how you manage your life, because it does change things.
Mike McFarland:
It's not quite as dramatic as having your first child, but it's pretty close. If you've never had a pet before, it does require some time and attention and, as I said, some homework on your part, like most relationships really, the more energy and love you put in it, the more satisfaction and happiness you're going to get out of it. So I just think that basic advice about relationships is true for pets as well.
Jamie Brannan:
Mike, I've really enjoyed the conversation. Great to hear your views and your insights on the study, and really, really appreciate your time today.
Mike McFarland:
Anytime, Jamie. I was happy to be here and maybe you can come to my podcast some time.
Jamie Brannan:
I've really enjoyed this conversation today as we've delved deeper into the amazing impacts pets can have on our lives. It's not only assistance dogs, but all pets that can give us a positive form of companionship, which can improve our social, emotional, or even cognitive abilities. Thanks, Mike, for sharing your experience and expertise. If you want to learn more about the powerful relationship between human and animals, you can visit the Human Animal Bond Research Institute's website at HABRI.org. Thanks for tuning in. And until next time, stay healthy, safe and be well.