Analysis of the emotional bond perception between elderly guardians and health professionals with companion animals in the one health perspective.

Authors

Eugênio Rodrigues Bezerra Junior, Sophia Omena Ribeiro, Evilda Rodrigues de Lima, Rita de Cássia Carvalho Maia, Jean Carlos Ramos Silva, José Wilton Pinheiro Junior

Published in

Open veterinary journal. Volume 15. Issue 12. Pages 6306-6315. Epub Dec 31, 2025.

Abstract

The One Health approach integrates human, animal, and environmental health; however, its relationship to the emotional bond between elderly pet guardians and veterinary professionals remains underexplored. Understanding this dynamic is essential for promoting animal welfare and owners' well-being.
To evaluate the emotional bond between elderly pet guardians and animal health professionals within the One Health framework.
This cross-sectional study was conducted from August 2023 to February 2024 at the Veterinary Hospital HVU of UFRPE. Participants included 66 older elderly owners (>60 years) seeking veterinary care and all hospital professionals. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire and analyzed descriptively, including the frequency distribution of absolute and relative data.
Most guardians were women (62.1%), aged 60-69 years (77.7%), and 89.3% owned dogs. Additionally, 60.6% had pets for over 5 years, and 77.3% were first-time owners. A strong emotional bond was observed, with 92.4% reporting improved mental health due to pet companionship. Despite this, 65.5% were unaware of the One Health concept, though all expressed interest in learning more about vaccination, parasite control, and emotional health improvement linking animals, people, and their environment. Among professionals, 100% recognized the emotional dependence of guardians on pets, and 53.1% considered this bond beneficial.
Elderly pet guardians demonstrate a strong emotional connection with their animals, which positively impacts their mental health. However, knowledge of One Health is limited, underscoring the need for targeted educational initiatives to enhance awareness and support holistic well-being in this population.

PMID:
42376512
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 30 Jun 2026.

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