Cedar Creek Veterinary Clinic Home Page

Cedar Creek Veterinary Clinic

Richard Smits, D.V.M.
12625 Leo Road
Fort Wayne, IN 46845
(260)627-5859

Cat and Dog Children and Pet Allergies

A recent study at the Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, MI says that early exposure of children to cats and dogs decreases the children's risk of becoming allergic to anything.

The study involved 474 children, enrolling infants at birth. It took into account such factors as parent's allergies, if anyone in the home smoked, and others. The study found that babies raised in homes with two or more animals were half as likely as babies raised in homes without animals to have allergies by age 6.

One reason for these results comes from the idea that children have become too clean. Scientists believe homes with dogs have a bacterial component caled endotoxin. Other studies suggested that younger children whose immune systems are exposed to endotoxin can ward off allergic reactions.

The study was in the August 28, 2002 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association. You can see that issue for complete details.
Cedar Creek Veterinary Clinic Home Page