Dogs can not only reflect certain behavior patterns of their owners, but also signal the state of their health. For example, dog owners with diabetes are more likely to have the disease themselves, according to a study conducted by Swedish researchers.

The experiment compared the diabetes cases of 208,980 dog owners and 123,566 cat owners. The results showed that having diabetes in a dog was associated with a 38 percent increased risk of its owner developing the condition. A dog also has an increased risk of developing diabetes if its owner has already been diagnosed with diabetes.

This is due to the similar lifestyle and nutritional habits that can be shared between owners and their pets.