New Study Shows that Babies with Pets are Healthier

Did you know that buying your toddler a kitten or puppy may actually help to improve your child’s health? While it may sound shocking, a new medical journal has discovered that babies that are in close contact with dogs or cats while they are growing are often healthier than those who are not. As well, the babies that are around fuzzy friends during their first year of life are less likely to suffer a respiratory infection. The Kuopio University Hospital set out on a research project to determine whether or not the presence of pets in a home would affect a child’s respiratory system has he or she was developing.

The followed 397 children from pregnancy until they were one year old, and monitored how often they came into contact with dogs or cats during this time. Despite the fact the respiratory infections are relatively common during a baby’s first year of life, they discovered the children who had contact with dogs during this time had fewer symptoms. They also suffered less from respiratory diseases in general, and needed less medicine when they were ill. The children who had a lot of contact with dogs also had less ear infections than those who did not. The findings led scientists to believe that those who have early contact with animals end up with a mature immune system long before the infants who were not given a pet.

Therefore, veterinarians suggest that having a healthy pet around can actually promote better health in your baby. When you pet does get sick, however, it’s best to keep him or her from baby. While most pet sicknesses aren’t transferrable between canines and humans, there is a change that you baby could be vulnerable to germs and disease carrying bacteria. When Fido gets sick, take him to a local vet right away to receive the prescriptions or treatments your animal needs.