Pregnant women and new parents needn’t worry that having a dog or cat in the house will increase the risk of their children developing allergies to pets. Two studies involving more than 1,500 children show that having a dog and a cat is actually a plus for pregnant women and new parents.
Pets toughen human immune system
“Ugh! I’ve been kissed by a dog! I have dog germs! Get hot water! Get some disinfectant! Get some Iodine!” is a famous line by Peanuts character Lucy Van Pelt after Snoopy licks her face. The dialogue reflected popular thinking of the day, however more recent research shows those germs actually have a beneficial effect.
Known as the “hygiene hypothesis” in the medical community and “common sense” to the rest of us, the theory is that the more everyday germs kids are exposed to, the tougher their immune system will become. After all, who hasn’t eaten dirt at one time or another, accidentally or on purpose in their childhood?
Pregnant women can embrace pets
In two different studies, U.S. researchers found that pets contribute to family health by boosting the immune system of babies, both prenatally and in the first year of life.
One study with pregnant women, believed to be the first of its kind, found that babies with indoor prenatal pet exposure show lower levels of the antibody Immunoglobulin E between birth and age 2, which is linked to the development of allergies and asthma.
Researchers followed more than 1,000 newborns and measured levels of Immunoglobulin E levels at birth, six months, one year and two years. They found antibody levels were 28 percent lower during infancy in babies who had indoor prenatal pet exposure compared to babies from pet-free homes.
Introduce furry family members early
In another study published in the journal Clinical & Experimental Allergy, researchers found that not only does having a dog or cat in the home not increase children’s risk of becoming allergic to pets, but the evidence suggested that Rover or Kitty’s presence during a baby’s first year might actually help reduce the likelihood of allergies.
U.S. researchers followed more than 500 children from birth up to adulthood; making periodic contact over the years to collect information about exposure to cats and dogs. By age 18 years, 565 study participants supplied blood samples to the researchers, who measured antibodies to dog and cat allergens in the samples.
First year experiences affect health status later in life
Scientists concluded that exposure to a dog and a cat in the first year of life was the most important exposure period. For example, young men whose families had kept an indoor dog during their first year of life had about half the risk of becoming sensitized to dogs compared to those whose families did not keep a dog in the first year of life.
Both men and women were about half as likely to be sensitized to cats if they had lived with a cat in the first year of life, compared to those who did not live with cats.
Experiences in the first year of life are associated with health status later in life, and the study concluded that early life pet exposure does not put most children at risk of being sensitized to these animals later in life.
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