How dogs can improve immune health for children

Dogs can helps to boost a healthy immune system

It might sound a little unnerving to know that if you live with a dog, you live with their bugs too!  After all, that's why we encourage children to wash their hands after giving a dog fuss.  But the reality is, it doesn't matter how clean we are, or how clean we keep our pets, when you live together you share the same microbiome, the millions of bacteria that call our bodies home.

Living with a dog means our immune systems are working to keep us safe from any harmful bacteria they may give to us, especially if your dog likes to lick, whilst also introducing us to other forms of good bacteria.

Paediatric studies have shown that children who grow up with dogs have better immune health than those who don’t.

The results of which means those with dogs fall ill less often and when they are poorly can often bounce back to health faster.

Children with dogs are less likely to suffer from asthma

Studies have also shown that children who have a birth parent that suffers from allergies or asthma have less predisposed if they have early exposure to dogs.  Even if a children's birth parents don't have asthma, there is general consensus that children are less likely to develop the disease.

Dogs are also good for the skin too

Some studies have shown that dogs actually protect children at risk of eczema. One study showed that children who didn’t live with dogs are 4 times more likely to develop the condition than those that do!

There are lots of benefits to living with pets, but here are a few things to consider if you have a pet and are thinking of becoming a foster parent.