Owning a pet can protect your baby from obesity and allergies

Whether it’s play or companionship, pets bring their owners’ plenty of joy. But did you know that the benefits go beyond cuddling and fun? A new study showed that having pets can protect babies from allergies and obesity!

At first, it may seem counteractive. Most parents want to keep their children away from furry pets, such as dogs and cats, due to allergies and sneezing. However, a research conducted by the University of Washington Department of Pediatrics found the opposite to be true. Contact with dogs early on, especially around the time of birth, can help the child’s immune development and reduce the likelihood of certain allergic diseases. In addition, a recent study by the University of Alberta showed that babies from families with pets –70% of which were dogs– showed higher levels of two types of microbes (Ruminococcus and Oscillospira) associated with lower risks of allergic disease and obesity.

As a matter of fact, the beneficial exposure can even be transferred to babies who are still in the womb. Yes, you read correctly –moms can reap the benefits while being pregnant! The presence of a pet in the household during the mom’s pregnancy can grant microbial advantages to the unborn baby’s gut microbiome.

It’s important to note that early exposure, from pregnancy to the baby’s first 3 months, is key.

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“There’s definitely a critical window of time when gut immunity and microbes co-develop, and when disruptions to the process result in changes to gut immunity,” said Anita Kozyrskyj, a pediatric epidemiologist and one of the world’s leading researchers on gut microbes –microorganisms or bacteria that live in the digestive tracts of humans and animals.

Researchers think that exposure to dogs may contribute to a critical step in a child’s rapidly developing immune system –a step that may occur shortly after birth.

If you’d like to learn more, please visit the following sites:

• Pet exposure may reduce allergy and obesity
• Why owning a pet could protect your baby from obesity and allergies
• The benefits of pets for kids
• Infants exposed to dogs less likely to develop allergic diseases
• Study: why dogs and cats make babies healthier