An unusual way to fight allergies: Get a dog

The Times (of London) has some news for all the parents of kids with allergies ... or those parents who fear their children will develop allergies:

Children run less risk of being sensitive to allergens if there is a dog in the house in the early years of their lives, scientists have found.

The conclusion, based on a six-year study of 9,000 children, adds weight to the theory that growing up with a pet trains the immune system to be less sensitive to potential triggers for allergies such as asthma, eczema and hay fever.

And that's not all:

The “hygiene theory” of allergy holds that modern life has simply become too clean, meaning that babies’ immune systems are not exposed to enough germs to develop normally.

So for all of you out there who are fastidious housekeepers and thinking of purchasing a goldendoodle (known for little or no shedding),  perhaps a trip to the pound is in order instead? 

-- Alice Short

Comments

[caitmin]

Its out there as a therapy option. But I prefer to stay closer to home and avoid common triggers that turn up in just about every skin care product you can name from shampoo to bubble bath. Why can't more manufacturers follow the example of brands like exederm, vancream and califonia baby - color free, fragrance free, parabens free - surely an easier way to deal with skin allergies like eczema than turning to cats & dogs !