A recent research study suggests that young children who have an indoor pet during their first year of life may be less likely to develop pet allergies.
In the research article below the researchers found that males who had an indoor pet dog during the first year of life had half the risk of developing a dog allergy by the age of 18 than males who had no pet dog. Additionally, when compared to those without a pet cat, both males and females who had a pet cat during the first year of life had a 48 percent reduced risk of being allergic to cats by the age of 18. Having a pet during any other year of life was not linked to a reduced allergy risk.
Research Article Link: Pets During Childhood May Reduce Risk for Allergies from the June, 2011, issue of Natural Standard’s Integrative Medicine Newsletter posted with permission.
For additional research results, visit the American Holistic Health Association’s Special Updates eReport Archives and note Featured Research item in each issue.
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