33 pc reduction? Your dog is protecting you from this disease

Let's face it; we have a lot to be grateful for when it comes to our dogs.

From their trust and their loyalty to their warm, soft, cuddly…

Sorry, we got momentarily distracted.

Anyway, in addition to all of these things, apparently we can also thank the adorable little lads for keeping us healthy.

According to a study of 3.4 million people, dog owners have a lower risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

Researchers at Uppsala University in Sweden have posited the theory that this is due to the fact that dogs have the ability to change their owner's  bacterial microbiome by exposing them to bacteria they had not yet encountered.

Commenting on the study, which spanned 11 years, lead study author, Mwenya Mubanga said: "The results showed that single dog owners had a 33% reduction in risk of death and 11% reduction in risk of heart attack."

However, it's worth noting that researchers have acknowledged the fact that previous medical history could play a role in their examination of the issue.

Senior author of the study, Tove Fall, elaborated on this, saying: "There might also be differences between owners and non-owners already before buying a dog, which could have influenced our results, such as those people choosing to get a dog tending to be more active and of better health."

The study has been published in Scientific Reports.