Infants living with dogs show healthier immune response

A recent Finnish study concluded that having a dog in the house with an infant for the first year produced a protective effect in regard to illness in the infant.  The researchers speculated that this effect was because of exposure to a variety of pathogens which helped the infants' immune systems develop earlier.  There was some evidence that exposure to cats had a similar effect, but in a larger study this effect was negated.

The most significant effect was found in households where the dog was present up to six hours per day in the house.  The researchers concluded that it was likely that when the dog was present in the household for only six hours, that meant it was outside the rest of the time gathering pathogens on its coat and paws, etc.  So, dogs that did not spend a considerable amount of time outside as well as inside did not provide as great a protective effect, yet the effect was still reported in a less significant form.

According to the study, "Children who had a dog at home had fewer respiratory tract symptoms than children with no dog contacts, and children having dog contacts at home had less frequent otitis and tended to need fewer courses of antibiotics than children without such contacts."

This is great news for pet owners who worry about exposing their young children to pathogens carried on the fur and body of the pets.  It appears that such exposure actually provides a protective effect instead of the opposite.  Be happy and love both your children and pets in the family.

Primary source: Pediatrics
Source reference:
Bergroth E, et al. "Respiratory tract illnesses during the first year of life: Effect of dog and cat contacts" Pediatrics 2012; DOI: 10.1542/peds.2011-2825.