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Can Dogs Prevent Asthma in Children?

Posted on September 8, 2016

Developing asthma is just common among children. Those with a history of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are at greater risks for developing the condition. Should a child develop it at a very young age, chances are he or she will be suffering from the condition for the rest of his or her life. As a parent, this is something you want to definitely prevent from happening because it can really be fatal.

Dog Allergy

Can Dogs Prevent Asthma in Children?

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About 40% of children with asthma are actually allergic to dogs. Consequently, you might be wondering how is a dog going to prevent the development of asthma— it just sounds contradicting.

Most parents would not consider having pets in their households because they believe that pets can only trigger asthma development. Nonetheless, that appears to be a myth now.

Dogs Can Help

At the 112th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology, a study was presented, suggesting that households with dogs reduce a child’s chances of developing asthma.

It is widely believed that the bacteria found in households with dogs and without dogs are relatively different. In line with this, the researchers commenced a study to determine whether the former household indeed minimizes a child’s risks for developing asthma while growing up. 

To make the long story short, the results supported the hypothesis. Exposure to dogs — or any animal on that note — at a very young age can significantly stimulate one’s immune system to prevent the development of asthma. The same goes for other allergens — the earlier the exposure to them, the lesser the chances of developing allergies.

Can Dogs Prevent Asthma in Children?

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What’s the parenting tip then? Well, better get that pet dog before your child become at greater risks for RSV and asthma. After all, what’s a cute addition to your household — not to mention it can possibly prevent asthma development, right?