When beauty queen and actress Olivia Culpo fell ill last week, her goldendoodle became her source of comfort while her husband, NFL star Christian McCaffrey, was away playing for the San Francisco 49ers.
“Been so sick this last week and doesn’t feel like I’m getting any better,” Culpo posted on Instagram on Nov. 24. “Consider this a friendly reminder. Don’t forget vitamin c and hand sanitizer etc. This is the worst respiratory virus I’ve ever had!!”
In the photo, published in U.S. Weekly on Nov. 25, Culpo is holding her goldendoodle dog who is named Oliver Sprinkles Culpo McCaffrey.
“So grateful for my loyal companion. I don’t know what I would do without him,” Culpo wrote.
Culpo is known for roles in “The Other Woman,” and “I Feel Pretty” as well as the reality TV series, “the Culpo Sisters.” She also won “Miss Rhode Island USA,” “Miss USA,” and the “Miss Universe” pageants.
“Dogs are far more sensitive to pheromones, electrical current, and high frequency sounds than we are, and it is believed that this is how they are able to detect more subtle changes in our health and function than any doctor or blood test,” veterinarian Karyn Kanowski told The Epoch Times.
A National Institutes of Health (NIH) study found that 84 percent of post-traumatic stress disorder patients paired with a service dog reported a significant reduction in symptoms, and 40 percent were able to decrease their medications.
Although a pet cannot replace professional medical care, PetPortraits.com co-founder Olivia Tapper believes a pet’s emotional support and companionship can contribute significantly to their owners’ recovery from illness.
“Dogs can show protective instincts by alerting others when their owner’s condition worsens,” Tapper told The Epoch Times.
PetPortraits.com is a community of pet lovers and also creates custom pet art.
The Culpo-McCaffrey home is among the 66 percent of American households who own a pet, according to the American Pet Products Association.
“A dog’s affection is the purest form of unconditional love, and being in their company when you are feeling your worst means that you can be by yourself without being alone,” Kanowski said.
Oliver Sprinkles isn’t the couple’s only pet.
Culpo, originally from Rhode Island, rescued a dog named Mario earlier this year from a kill shelter in Los Angeles.
“Having a loyal furry friend by your side can do wonders when you’re feeling down,” Tapper said. “Their presence can lower stress hormones and release feel-good chemicals in our brains. Some dogs even go the extra mile by fetching favorite toys or resting their heads on their owner’s lap.”
Culpo, who did not respond to requests for comment, watched her husband play on Nov. 10 and posted about it on Instagram.
“Proud of you, husband,” Culpo wrote.
The 49ers play the New York Buffalo Bills on Sunday, Dec. 1.
“Although some dogs may keep bringing a ball to their sad, injured, or unwell owner in the constant hope of a game of fetch, many more will abandon the game to sit by their human’s side, content to just provide the company they need,” Kanowski added.
