Dogs may protect babies from some infections

[pixy0stix]

news.yahoo.com/dogs-may-protect-babies-infections-study-042402114.html

Babies who spend time around pet dogs have fewer ear infections and respiratory ailments than those whose homes are animal-free, said a study released on Monday.

The study, published in the US journal Pediatrics, did not say why but suggested that being around a dog that spends at least part of its day outdoors may boost a child's immune system in the first year of life.

Cats, too, seemed to convey some protection to babies, though the effect observed was weaker than with dogs.

The research was based on 397 children in Finland whose parents made diary entries each week recording the state of their child's health during the infant's first year, from nine weeks to 52 weeks of age.

Overall, babies in homes with cats or dogs were about 30 percent less likely to have respiratory infectious symptoms -- which included cough, wheezing, rhinitis (stuffy or runny nose) and fever -- and about half as likely to get ear infections.

"If children had dog or cat contacts at home, they were significantly healthier during the study period," said the study led by experts at Kuopio University Hospital in Finland.

The most protective association was seen in children who had a dog inside at home for up to six hours a day, compared to children who did not have any dogs or who had dogs that were always outside.

"We offer preliminary evidence that dog ownership may be protective against respiratory tract infections during the first year of life," said the study.

"We speculate that animal contacts could help to mature the immunologic system, leading to more composed immunologic response and shorter duration of infections."

The improvement was significant, even after researchers ruled out other factors that could boost infection risk, such as not having been breastfed, attending daycare, being raised by smokers or parents with asthma, or having older siblings in the household.

In addition to having less frequent ear infections and respiratory infections, babies near dogs tended to need fewer courses of antibiotics compared to those who were reared in pet-free households, it said.

Previous research has shown conflicting results, with some studies finding no benefit for young children being around furry pets and others finding that animal contact appears to offer some protection against colds and stomach ailments.

The study authors said their research differs from previous analyses because it focuses solely on the first postnatal year and does not include older children.

[Brie]

Annnnd forwarding this to the friends who insist we need to get rid of our dog and cats before the baby gets here...

[pixy0stix]

Jul 9, 2012 11:37:48 GMT -5 @bunnybean said:

I love it! And why on earth would someone say to get rid of your animals before the baby?

Because peeple r dumbz.

I can't tell you how many people told me to get rid of my animals. I quickly burned that idea to the ground.

[heightsyankee]

It's all part of the over-cleanliness of our culture, I think. I also think it's going to be the ruin of us. I am happy to have little, dirt eating, pet sleeping with kids!

[ringstrue]

My cats have been hell since I was pg straight up till now. But I blame that more on spoiling them pre-baby times and not having a basement to throw them in when I need a break for a day (week?).

DD had no ear infections until like 2 months after I stopped nursing. Ever since she's been a mess.

I wonder if you controlled for the litterbox dust if the cats were even less of a plus?

[pescalita]

Jul 9, 2012 11:40:02 GMT -5 heightsyankee said:

It's all part of the over-cleanliness of our culture, I think. I also think it's going to be the ruin of us. I am happy to have little, dirt eating, pet sleeping with kids!

:::thumbs up emoticon:::

I'm starting to get a little weirded out by the fact that A hasn't had more than a little teething congestion in 7 months. Kid is wicked healthy, knock wood.

Here's another on the list of things it *could* be, but we'll never know, added to: EBF, over-developed immune system (thanks to his one-in-a-million blood disorder), pure dumb luck.

[NitaX]

Jul 9, 2012 11:39:21 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

Jul 9, 2012 11:37:48 GMT -5 @bunnybean said:

I love it! And why on earth would someone say to get rid of your animals before the baby?

Because peeple r dumbz.

I can't tell you how many people told me to get rid of my animals. I quickly burned that idea to the ground.

Same here. OMGZ!!!!!!!! Your cat is gonna KILLZ YOUR BABYEEEEEEE!!!!!!!
8-D

Ummm, Taylor is still alive isn't she. Look - proof cats don't kill babies.

[redheadbaker]

Jul 9, 2012 11:54:15 GMT -5 pescalita said:

Jul 9, 2012 11:40:02 GMT -5 heightsyankee said:

It's all part of the over-cleanliness of our culture, I think. I also think it's going to be the ruin of us. I am happy to have little, dirt eating, pet sleeping with kids!

:::thumbs up emoticon:::

I'm starting to get a little weirded out by the fact that A hasn't had more than a little teething congestion in 7 months. Kid is wicked healthy, knock wood.

Here's another on the list of things it *could* be, but we'll never know, added to: EBF, over-developed immune system (thanks to his one-in-a-million blood disorder), pure dumb luck.

Liam has never been sick, either. I mostly attribute that to the fact that I'm still unemployed, so he hasn't had to go to daycare.

[KateAggie]

I wonder if I can start bagging up my dog hair and selling it on ebay like that chick with the chicken pox lollipops?

[Deleted]

I am saving this for the next time my SIL and her mother start looking anxious when a family dog is in the same house as her daughters....because you know, dogs have germs.

(to be fair, SILs father also doesn't like the girls running around barefoot in the grass because they might be allergic, so their anxiety isn't confined to just dogs.)

[2vermont]

This just seems like common sense to me.