Resistance To Pet Allergies
While dogs can be one of the worst triggers for people with allergies, growing up in a house with a dog makes children less likely to develop allergies over the course of their lives. Even if you were just a fetus when your mother lived with a dog, you are still less likely to be bothered by animal hair and dander, or to develop eczema as an adult.
Researchers found that having a dog seemed to stimulate or restore the ability of the immune (defense) system to fight infection and disease and reduced allergies by as much as four times.
Children With Dog Allergies
Researchers found that dog ownership among children with dog allergies may reduce the risk of developing eczema by age 4 years.
The results provided interesting information regarding pet ownership. The researchers found that children who tested positive for dog sensitivities were less likely to develop eczema by age four years if they owned a dog before age one year.
Children With Cat Allergies
Unlike dog ownership, cat ownership seemed to have a negative effect on children who are allergic to cats. Children who owned a cat before age one year and were allergic to cats based on a skin allergy test were 13 times more likely to develop eczema by age 4 years. However children who were not allergic to cats were not at an increased risk for eczema if they owned a cat.
Dr. Tolly Epstein an allergist-immunologist who specialize in Allergy & Immunology, suggests that parents of children at risk for eczema may want to consider these findings when choosing a family pet