Study: Pets Help Lower The Risk Of Childhood Asthma

by Mary Simpson

Published: November 6th, 2015

study pets help lower the risk of childhood asthma

Pets are the best medicine, and Swedish science backs that claim up! Researchers say the dogs can lower the risk of asthma in children.

We all know that Old MacDonald had a farm and on that farm he had a cow (all together now, E-I-E-I-O) but did you also know that he had elevated amounts of micro-organisms? Yes, no surprise here that all those cows, pigs, chickens, dogs and cats kick up a lot of dirt, fur, feathers and icky stuff during their day to day routine. But while an affront to the nose, studies show that all these germs and toxins actually offer up a sort of natural remedy to the growing problem of childhood asthma.

It seems the findings from a study conducted by researchers in Sweden including Karolinska Institutet and Uppsala University were published in JAMA Pediatrics and confirm that exposure to farm animals can actually help stave off what is becoming a childhood epidemic.

Related: The Health Benefits Of Cats

Did you know that a whopping 9.3% of children in the U.S. (that’s 6.8 million kids) suffer from asthma; a debilitating disease that can become chronic, with coughing, wheezing and lethargy compromising the quality of life for our younger population.

While past studies have drawn a link between environmental factors (think tobacco smoke), Tove Fall, PhD, of Uppsala University took a deeper dive, looking at a possible connection between animal exposure and asthma.

Studying over 1 million children born between 2001-2010 in Sweden, Fall explained “Earlier studies have shown that growing up on a farm reduces a child’s risk of asthma to about half. We wanted to see if this relationship was true also for children growing up with dogs in their homes.”

Here’s what they found:

Dog exposure during the first year of life was linked with a 13% lower risk of asthma when the child was school-aged.
Farm animal exposure was linked with a 52% reduced risk of asthma in school-age children and a 31% reduced risk in preschool-age children.

Yes, we’re back to the dust and fluff and poop and the fact that kids living on a farm or with a dog, come into regular contact with “elevated and diverse” amounts of microorganisms and endotoxins.

Researchers confirm that exposures like this “have the potential to influence the risk of asthma as well as the burden of infectious disease.” In fact, they are concluding that in what is the first nationwide setting, they have produced evidence of a reduced risk of childhood asthma in 6-year-old children exposed to dogs and farm animals. Their hope is that this type of info might encourage families and physicians to look at early animal exposure for kidlets.

So if I read this right, we’re being told to toss the hand sanitizers, enforce the 10-second rule (when food falls on the floor), and get our kids a pooch. Sure beats an inhaler and meds!

Mary Simpson

Sharing space with three seriously judgy Schnoodles and a feline who prefers to be left alone. #LivingMyBestLife

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This is a challenging time in humanity’s history, and parents all over the world are feeling the crunch of their children’s mental wellbeing during the COVID-19 crisis. Not to mention, the crunch of keeping their own sanity stable. Recent research suggests that pets may help lower family stress of autism for both children and their parents. Stress is on the tips of just about every tongue these days. Stress about going to work or being out of work. Stress about going to school or staying home from school. Stress about when we may see anything that looks sort of ‘normal’ again. But researchers from the University of Missouri recently found that pets can help reduce stress for both children with autism AND their parents. Once again, we fall in love with our pets and all they add to our lives. Related: Top 10 Dog Breeds For Autism Gretchen Carlisle is a research scientist with the Research Center for Human-Animal Interaction at the Missouri University College of Veterinary Medicine. She and her team surveyed over 700 families from the Interactive Autism Network and asked about the benefits and burdens of having a cat or dog in the family. Overwhelmingly, Carlisle found that despite the burden of pet care responsibility, those surveyed found a strong bond with their pets beneficial. Parents of children with autism who had multiple pets reported more benefit, and owning a pet was not related to parental stress. Carlisle said that considering the traits and characteristics of the autism spectrum are so diverse, finding interventions that help children with autism and their parents can be hard. She also said that some of the biggest challenges children with autism face include trouble communicating and dealing with anxiety. Pets can help increase their social interactions and communications, as well as help decrease anxiety in children. Even better, though, is that they can provide similar benefits to their parents too. Related: Impact of Shelter Cats on Kids With Autism Carlisle recommends that if you’re considering adding a pet to your family, you should include your child with autism in the decision-making process. It’s important to make sure that the pet you choose has an activity level that matches the child’s. Some children with autism have certain sensitivities, so choosing a pet with a high activity level or who makes loud, rambunctious noises may not be the best fit. Finding the pet who matched activity level and child preference was the most important feature to choosing a pet. Cat or dog (or both), the good news is evidence-based research has suggestions for ways to help lower stress for families. In this day and age, every little bit of stress reduction helps.

Study: Exposure to Cats Can Reduce Childhood Asthma Rates

New research suggests that a cat in the house around newborns can help prevent children from developing asthma. Researchers from the Copenhagen Studies on Asthma in Childhood Research Center (COPSAC), Denmark, are suggesting that cats can prevent asthma from developing in children. The scientists concluded that cats neutralize the effect of a specific gene in our body. When this gene is activated, children have double the risk of developing activated. They believe that if a cat is in the home when the child is born, the gene is never activated, and the risk of asthma decreases significantly. Related: What is Cat Scratch Fever and How Can You Avoid Being Infected? Hans Bisgaard is a professor of pediatrics and the head of COPSAC. He is also the lead author of the study and he says that he was surprised because the study showed that genes connected to diseases can be basically switched on or off like a light based on the environment we are in. He says that it shows how the connection between our genetics and the environment is so important, and in particular, how important our environments are in pregnancy and a child’s early life. The study looked at 377 Danish children whose mothers had asthma–looking at their mapped genes and information about their environments and upbringing with both surveys and samples. They found that cats removed the risk of asthma developing in children who had a specific variation of the gene 17q21, also called TT. This gene has the strongest impact on whether the children would develop asthma or not and almost one in three of the children carried the TT variation gene. Their mother having asthma or not had no bearing on that statistic. The scientists found that only cats seemed to make a difference in the development of asthma in children who had the TT gene variation, and exposure to dogs early in life did not have the same effect. More, they also believe that cats helped protect against asthma and bronchitis, as the 17q21 gene is connected to those conditions. Related: Study: Pets Help Lower The Risk Of Childhood Asthma Because these results show that genes and the environment interact so precisely and yet in such unknown ways, it’s important for more research to be done to look at the broader implications. Particularly because the study doesn’t show exactly what it is about cats, and whether it is cat specific, that helps protect children with those gene variations, the researchers would like to know exactly what kind of and how much exposure to cats early on would make an impact. Co-author Jakob Stokholm believes that it could be something in the bacteria that cats carry or something about fungus or viruses specific to cats that children are then exposed to that can influence the immune system. Stokholm says that this could lead the way for finding more about how to protect children from developing asthma altogether.

Study: Early Exposure To Pets May Reduce Childhood Allergies and Obesi

New research out of Canada suggests that when we expose children to dogs, cats, and other furry pets when they are infants, we may be helping reduce their risk of childhood allergies and obesity. Recent studies have shown that early exposure to pets may actually help reduce the risk of childhood allergies to dogs and cats, but now research from the University of Alberta in Canada has found that early exposure to pets creates significant increases in the gut flora of children! Related: Study: Pets Help Lower The Risk Of Childhood Asthma The researchers discovered that when children were exposed to dogs, cats and other pets before birth and up to three months after, they have higher levels of the Ruminococcus and Oscillospira bacteria–both beneficial for good gut health. Previous research done suggests that Ruminococcus may reduce risk of childhood allergies and Oscillospira may be associated with decreased obesity risks. Studies have suggested that exposure to dogs in the first year of a child’s life could be attributed to a 13 percent decrease in the risk of asthma a child may have later in life, and as we learn more about the importance of microbiomes, it is suggested that gut flora plays a big part in our risk rates. The exposure to bacteria that children get from pets is what researchers believe is actually responsible for the critical changes in gut microbiota that these risk reductions may be attributed to. Related: HABRI Study Finds Dogs De-Stress Families with Autistic Children Co-author Anita Kozyrskyj of the Department of Pediatrics at Alberta and her colleagues looked at data from the Canadian Healthy Infant Longitudinal Development Study (CHILD) cohort–which included 746 babies born between 2009 and 2012. Of those babies approximately half had been exposed to household pets before and after birth, with about 70 percent of those pets being dogs. The researchers examined fecal samples from each baby when they were about three months and looked at specific gut bacteria. They found that those who’d been exposed to pets before and after birth had twice as much Ruminococcus and Oscillospira in their guts compared to the non-exposed infants. Interestingly, this abundance was still present regardless of three factors known to affect a baby’s gut bacteria–cesarean delivery, antibiotics given during birth and little breast-feeding from mom. The researchers even discovered that pet exposure before birth was correlated with the reduction of vaginal b group strep from mother to child during delivery. Though further studies would obviously be needed to continue to understand the connections between early-life pet exposure and gut flora, the researchers do believe that their findings not only affirm previous studies that show benefits of household pets, but inspire new research that could bring about treatments from pet exposure therapy.

Stray Dog Becomes Surrogate for Abandoned Puppies at Texas Shelter

A stray Great Pyrenees dog, found wandering the streets of Fort Bend County, Texas, became a surrogate mother to a litter of six abandoned puppies.In late October, a concerned citizen found an abandoned litter of puppies. After failing to locate the pups’ mother in the surrounding area, the person brought the puppies to Fort Bend County Animal Services. “They were tiny, needing immediate bottle feeding and care, they were just about a week to 10 days old,” said Rene Vasquez, the director of Fort Bend County Animal Services, to PEOPLE.Although the puppies arrived at the shelter in good condition, they were starving and needed nourishment ASAP. The Fort Bening County Animal Services took to social media to look for fosters to take in the puppies and provide them with around-the-clock bottle feedings. Around the same time, another local found a stray Great Pyrenees, named Nova, who was full of milk. While it was clear that Nova had a litter recently, her puppies were nowhere to be found. The woman who found Nova saw the shelter’s online call for help and decided to contact them with a different idea. Instead of using volunteers to do the bottle feedings, she suggested bringing Nova by to see if the dog would accept to nurse the puppies. The shelter loved this idea and decided to give Nova a chance. A few seconds after Nova met the puppies it became apparent that the shelter made the right decision. “Nova was so happy to see the puppies! She took to them right away, and they were very happy to have a mama and food,” Vasquez shared. Although the abandoned puppies aren’t Nova’s biological litter, she accepted them as if they were her own. Acting like a true momma, Nova quickly allowed the pups to nurse and cuddle close to her for warmth. Thanks to Nova’s maternal instincts the puppies are doing well and growing quickly.“We were so happy that Nova was able to step up and be a mom for them. Sometimes, it is difficult to find bottle feeders and fosters for when the puppies or kittens are so little, so to have a nursing mom available to accept the babies is definitely a good day,” said Vasquez. Nova and the puppies, five boys and one girl, are currently living in a foster home. The fosters caring for the four-legged bunch plan to adopt Nova once the puppies are weaned. “The puppies will stay with Nova until they are weaned, and then we will start looking for homes for them. They will also be vaccinated, microchipped, and fixed before going to their forever homes,” the shelter’s director added. The case of Nova and her adopted litter has a happy ending, but not all stories end on a positive note. “As an industry, we are facing a real crisis in animal welfare across the country with an abundance of stray animals and not enough adopters or fosters to help the overcrowded shelters and rescues. Nova and her puppies illustrate the importance of spaying and neutering,” said the Fort Bend County Animal Services director.Shelters around the country are struggling to take in new animals due to a lack of forever homes and overcrowding. Each year, millions of pets end up in shelters across the nation, most of which are never adopted into a forever home. If you’re looking for a four-legged companion, visit your local shelter or rescue organization to see which of their residents would make a perfect addition to your home. Join the PetGuide community. Get the latest pet news and product recommendations by subscribing to our newsletter here.

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Study Finds Pets Didn't Make People Happier During the Pandemic

Would you say that your pet help you feel better during the pandemic? Countless pet parents, myself included, would say they experienced less stress and anxiety during lockdown thanks to their four-legged companions. However, a new study led by researchers from Michigan State University suggests otherwise. Researchers couldn’t find a reliable association between pet ownership and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic, even though owners claimed pets improved their lives. The pandemic was extremely stressful for everyone. The research team from Michigan State University theorized that the pandemic created ideal conditions to determine how much happiness and comfort pets actually provide to their families. The study, published in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, evaluated 767 people on three separate occasions in May 2020. The researchers used a mixed-method approach, looking at several indicators of well-being. They also asked owners in an open-ended question to think about the role of pets. Unsurprisingly, pet owners reported their pets made them happy. Owners claimed pets help them feel more positive emotions and provide companionship and affection, but also expressed worry about their pet’s well-being and reported their pets interfered with working remotely. But when researchers compared the happiness of pet owners to levels seen in non-pet owners they made a surprising discovery. Shockingly, the data showed no difference in the well-being of pet owners and non-pet owners over time. The research team explained that it did not matter what type of pet people owned, how many pets they had, or how close owners were with their pets. The personalities of the owners weren’t a factor either. “People say pets make them happy, but when we actually measure happiness that doesn’t appear to be the case,” said William Chopik, an associate professor in MSU’s Department of Psychology and co-author of the study, in a university release. “People see friends as lonely or wanting companionship, and they recommend getting a pet. But it’s unlikely to be as transformative as people think,” added Chopik. The research team also explored several other potential reasons as to why there was no difference in the happiness levels of pet owners and non-pet owners. The most likely reason might be that non-pet owners have found ways to fill their lives with activities and interests that make them as happy as owning a pet would. “Staking all of your hope on a pet making you feel better is probably unfair and maybe costly, given other things you could do in your life that could improve your happiness,”  said Chopik. Another study, involving 4,237 people, beginning at the start of the pandemic and ending in December 2021, had similar findings. Although owners grew closer to their pets, especially dogs, during the pandemic, that didn’t stave off stress.In fact, the lowest stress levels were seen in non-pet owners. When you think about it, these results kind of make sense - pet owners had an additional mouth to feed during the lockdown and had limited opportunities to take their dogs out for a walk or play session. The results of these studies are surprising, to say the least. I was positive that I was happier than my poochless friends during the lockdown, but guess that wasn’t the case. After thinking about this a bit more, I realized that maybe we shouldn’t expect so much from our four-legged companions. Yes, there are many benefits to owning a pet, and pets can make us happy, but ultimately happiness depends on ourselves. Join the PetGuide community. Get the latest pet news and product recommendations by subscribing to our newsletter here.

Is Melatonin Safe For Dogs?

Melatonin is an important hormone, which is naturally produced in the pineal gland of the brain. It has numerous beneficial aspects, such as it can help regulate mood, sleep cycles, and reproduction. However, its production is directly stimulated by darkness, while it is inhibited by light. What does this mean? It means that both dogs and humans will produce melatonin only when it is dark outside. As soon as the dawn arrives with the light of day, melatonin production ceases. This means that many people will supplement melatonin, or use it throughout the day for various reasons. Which brings up the question - is melatonin safe for dogs? Let’s find out. Is Melatonin Safe For Dogs? Melatonin is generally considered extremely safe for dogs, and it is almost always safe to give it to them - when it is used appropriately and under the guidance of a veterinarian. While melatonin is used in humans for the above-mentioned reasons, for dogs it is usually used for treating various skin conditions, anxiety, or sleep disorders. But even with all the positive aspects, it is necessary to first heed the advice of your veterinarian, before giving melatonin to your pet. This is because the proper dosage is important. The dose of melatonin administered depends on your pet’s size, weight, and overall health condition. Generally, veterinarians recommend starting with a low dose and gradually increasing it if necessary. Dosages typically range from 0.5 to 3 milligrams per dog, but this can vary. Mistake the dosage, and you risk a lot of side effects, like digestive upset, lethargy, and changes in mood or behavior.What is more, melatonin might not be suitable for dogs with certain health conditions or those taking other medications. Because of this, it is always crucial to seek professional advice before administering any supplements or medications to your pet. Ignoring this can cause a lot of harm.

Urine Tests Could Now Provide Early Detection of Cancer in Dogs

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Can You Prevent Joint Pain in Dogs?

As dogs near their golden years, different health issues tend to pop up – sometimes completely out of the blue, and sometimes a little less unexpectedly. One of the more common health problems dogs experience as they age that can be predicted fairly easily and as such prevented on time are joint issues. Providing proper support for your dog while they are still young and agile can dramatically improve their quality of life later on, so it pays to start thinking ahead when it comes to joint health, especially if your pet is in a high-risk group for developing this type of problem (large breed dogs, working breeds, highly active dogs, etc). Here’s what you need to know to make sure your pet doesn’t suffer from joint pain in their senior years.5 Crucial Steps to Prevent Joint Pain in DogsWhile some factors contributing to joint pain are beyond our control, there are different proactive steps we can take to support our pet's joint health:#1 Maintain a Healthy WeightJust as in humans, obesity in dogs exacerbates joint strain and can accelerate the onset of joint problems. A balanced diet will go a long way in helping your pet maintain a healthy weight, so strive to ensure they are getting only quality food that is based mostly on protein and doesn’t contain unhealthy fats and too many fillers such as soy or corn.#2 Provide Regular ExerciseModerate, low-impact exercise helps keep joints limber and muscles strong. However, be mindful of your dog's limitations, as pushing them too far can end up being counterproductive. Activities like swimming and walks are excellent choices, just make sure to tailor the pace to your pet’s capabilities.#3 Quality Supplementation Providing a diet rich in essential nutrients, including omega-3 fatty acids, glucosamine, and chondroitin, supports joint health. However, even when feeding a good quality kibble, it’s not always feasible to rely on your pet’s diet alone to be enough to provide all of these joint-nurturing ingredients in the right ratio. This is where dog joint supplements come in to enrich your pet’s diet with specific nutrients. 

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Is Dog Food Bad for Cats?

In households where cats and dogs coexist together, you can bet that furballs will “share” everything. Sofas, lounging chairs, cozy spots, beds, toys – you name it. Well, sure, not all of it is sharing in the real sense of the word, as it is more of your cat just claiming all of it for itself. That’s just how cats are. But hey, no harm in your cat and dog sharing a bed or a lounging spot. However, what would happen if your cat happened to “share” your dog’s food? Can dog food be bad for cats? Here’s what you should know if your feline is keen on nibbling your dog’s kibble.Is Dog Food Bad for Cats?Cats and dogs are different – it doesn’t take much thinking to figure that out. Not only in their behavioral traits but in their nutritional needs as well. And since their nutritional requirements differ, dog food will generally not be adequate for cats. While dog food is not toxic to cats, it does not have all the nutrients necessary for cats, and it is not formulated in the same way. Cats need specific nutrients like taurine, arachidonic acid, and certain vitamins that are not present in sufficient amounts in dog food. For example, dogs can survive with lower levels of Vitamin A and proteins, while cats cannot. And even if your cat somehow enjoys dog food and prefers to munch on it at feeding time, it is ultimately not good for her. In fact, feeding cats dog food over a long period can lead to nutritional deficiencies and health problems. It's essential to feed cats a balanced diet formulated specifically for their needs to ensure they stay healthy. This includes plenty of protein (more than doggos), and amino acids like taurine and arginine. In fact, these amino acids are essential for cat health. Taurine is especially important for cats. Unlike dogs, cats cannot synthesize enough taurine in their bodies, so they must get it from their diet. Taurine deficiency can lead to serious health issues in cats, including heart problems and vision issues.Cats also require arachidonic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid found in animal tissues. Arachidonic acid is necessary for maintaining healthy skin, coat, and reproductive function. While dogs can synthesize arachidonic acid from other fats, cats cannot produce enough on their own and must obtain it from their diet. The same goes for Vitamins A and D. They are essential components of a cat diet, and cannot be found in dog food in adequate measures. 

Meet Maverick, the Winner of the 2023 American Humane Hero Dog Award

A six-year-old European Blue Great Dane was singled out from hundreds of other dogs and crowned the 2023 American Humane Hero Dog. Maverick’s job as a therapy dog is to support military members and their families from across the country.Maverick has an extraordinary ability to provide comfort to those who need it with a simple touch of his paw. “A sign of a good therapy dog is a dog that always wants to touch you,” explained Marverick’s owner, Kelly Brownfield, from Saint Robert, Missouri. “He just has a sense of knowing what people need.”Brownfield, who works as a manager at the Fort Leonard Wood United Service Organization, told Fox News that Maverick was born for a purpose. “Maverick’s superpower is his ability to calm people with a touch of his paw, giving them strength to move forward,” she said.This gentle giant supports service members after unexpected deaths in their units, escorts children to military funerals of their parents, and helps service men and women cope with trauma. Each week, Maveric spends time with students at school, offering support to children who practice their reading skills.Tipping the scales at 150 pounds, Maverick can initially seem intimidating, but “he is literally a gentle giant,” said Brownfield. “His whole aura about him is calming.”“He is the perfect size for everything that we do. He is literally their rock; they can lean on him, and he is there for them,” his owner added. “The one thing about this breed is that they have a heart to match.”Each year, people around the country nominate hundreds of dogs in five categories - law enforcement and first responder dogs; service and guide or hearing dogs; therapy dogs; military dogs; and emerging hero and shelter dogs - for American Humane’s Hero Dog Award.Five semi-finalists, in each of the five categories, were chosen from hundreds of dogs. A competitive public vote has cut the list to only five four-legged finalists - one presenting each category. Maverick, who was competing against service dog Moxie, Coast Guard K-9 Buda, police dog Poppy, and emerging hero Raina, was crowned by the panel of judges as the winner. “We are so excited to name Maverick as the American Humane’s 2023 Hero Dog, a distinction that is well deserved for him and his owner Kelly,” said Dr. Robin Ganzert, President and CEO of American Humane. “The duo has worked tirelessly to bring comfort and solace to our nation’s military heroes through the United Service Organization (USO), all while they both were facing their internal beatles against cancer. It’s these types of incredible stories about sacrifice, perseverance, and compassion that this award aims to spotlight.”Maverick has also offered emotional support to his owner Kelly, who has been battling cancer for the past six years. “I truly believe he knew before anyone else knew,” said Brownfield, adding that Maverick was particularly clingy, touchy, and protective in the months leading up to her diagnosis. “To have him there, especially on hard days has been just an amazing support.”The six-year-old gentle giant also faced a cancer diagnosis last year but is now cancer-free thanks to a successful surgical procedure. Although Maverick spends most of his time in Missouri, he and his owner sometimes travel around the country for work. Together, he and Brownfield have completed hundreds of special mission requests over the years.Having a therapy dog around “can help change lives,” said Brownfield. “He senses the needs of every person.”Maverick and the four other finalists will be honored at the 13th annual American Humane Hero Dog Awards in Palm Beach, Florida. The award show will air on Thanksgiving Day and November 26 on A&E.Join the PetGuide community. Get the latest pet news and product recommendations by subscribing to our newsletter here.

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