Having a Dog in the House Has a Positive Effect on a Child's Health (3 photos)

Children raised in households with dogs are half as likely to develop asthma as those who live without pets. Cats, on the other hand, have no impact on health. Scientists studied dust from the homes of 1,050 infants aged three to four months and followed them for up to five years. During this time, 6.6% of the infants were diagnosed with asthma.





The study showed that children regularly exposed to the allergen Can f1 (present in dog skin and saliva) had a 48% lower risk of developing lung disease than other children. They also had improved lung function, as measured by a test that measures how much air they can exhale in one second after taking a deep breath.

Children exposed to dust containing cat allergens showed no protection.

The study's author, Dr. Jacob McCoy, who presented his findings at the European Respiratory Society Congress in Amsterdam, shared, "We studied allergens secreted by dogs and cats. Cat allergens showed no association, but exposure to dog allergens was associated with improved lung function and a reduced risk of asthma. The reasons for this are unclear, but we do know that asthma symptoms can worsen after sensitization to dog allergens."



"This suggests that early exposure to dog allergens may prevent sensitization, possibly through altering the nasal microbiome or affecting the immune system. Our findings highlight the protective role of dog allergens, but further research is needed to understand how early exposure to these allergens affects lung function and asthma risk in childhood."

"Asthma is a common chronic respiratory disease in children, most often appearing in the first four years of life. It develops due to a complex interaction of genetic and environmental factors, including infections, allergies, and air pollution. Children spend a lot of time indoors, so our study focused on allergens in the home." This is an important risk factor that we can influence to reduce the likelihood of developing the disease."



Dr. Erol Gaillard, an expert with the European Respiratory Society and an associate professor at the University of Leicester, commented: "This is good news for families with dogs. However, we need to learn more about this connection and the long-term impact of pets on children's developing lungs."

"Children with wheezing or a predisposition to asthma have previously been advised to avoid pets. However, new research has shown that having a dog in the home may reduce the risk of developing asthma. This research highlights the importance of further research into respiratory diseases. We still don't know all the causes of asthma, how to reduce the risk of developing it, or how to treat it effectively," said Sarah Sleeth, chief executive of Asthma and Lung UK.