Paws for thought – puppies as allergy prevention?
How a pet pooch could prevent your child from getting asthma
Sorry mamas, but science is on your child's side on this one. Shh, don't tell them – but a puppy could actually be good for their health.
Research has found that living with a dog could cut a child's risk of developing asthma by 15 per cent. And contact with farm animals could halve it. Time to ditch the city for the country then...
The study in Sweden, where you have to register that you own a dog or farm animal, supports the idea that over-cleaning and not exposing your child to germs early in life can increase their risk of allergies like asthma.
More research still needs to be done, but we reckon it's a great excuse to put down the hoover and disinfectant. But remember a dog's not just for Christmas!
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