Do Pets Raise Allergy Risks for Your Baby? Separating Myth from Science

Do you love keeping pets and are thinking of getting rid of your cats because you are expecting a new
baby? Certainly, this common belief is the first thing that will come to your mind when you learn about
your pregnancy.

In the United States of America, 3 out of 10 people are allergic to cats and dogs, especially if they suffer
from allergies or have asthma, in addition to the fact that twice as many people are allergic to cats who
are allergic to dogs.

But the surprise is, that this is not what usually happens with children born in a house with a cat or a
dog. In a recent study, researchers found that a child born in a house with a cat or dog is less likely to
develop allergies as a result of contact with them in the future.

Pet raising and children’s health

What is the appropriate age to raise pets with your child?

The study proved that the presence of a cat or dog in the house in the first year of the child’s life
reduces the risk of allergy when mixed with them by 50% in adolescence, and it has linked this with the
presence of a pet in the house in the first year of the child’s life, but if you own the pet After the first
year, the risk of allergic reactions remains.

How does raising pets help prevent children from allergies?

The study says that exposure of the child in his first year to bacteria caused by cats and dogs helps to
strengthen his immune system and works to create a natural immunity against this type of allergy, and it
did so after making sure that the father or mother was not allergic in general to exclude the genetic
factor.

Benefits of raising pets at home:

Pets have a positive effect on children physically, psychologically and behaviorally.

It has been observed that antibodies are higher in the bodies of children who own animals than their counterparts, which
supports their immune systems.
Pets help the only child to have company, and pets teach children to deal with health problems,
because they take them with their mother or father to the vet and learn about the necessary
vaccinations and medications for the animal.

The presence of animals reduces the child’s follow-up to television and his attachment to electronic
games, especially if the child interferes with the animal’s daily routine, such as walking and feeding it,
and also teaches children how to play with the animal and help it.
The child’s interest and care for his pet develops his personality, making him a compassionate, patient,
responsible and reliable person who enjoys the required firmness at times, because he assumed
responsibility at an early age.
The child learns from the animal some non-verbal skills in communication and empathy. The animal will
shower your child with unconditional love. Your child will always come to find his pet waiting for him to
play and have fun with him.
Now there is no need to get rid of your cats, dogs and pets, according to previous studies, but this does
not prevent you from consulting a doctor.

There are some diseases that pets may cause to your child, such as pneumonia or the appearance of a
rash, and parasites that infect animals such as fleas and ticks are very easy to infect children, and cause
severe itching and allergies, in addition to the possibility of children suffering from chest allergies. As a
result of exposure to animal hair such as cats and dogs on a continuous basis.

So when deciding to raise a pet at home, you should conduct a medical examination on it first, to
ensure that it is not infected with any diseases, and to ensure that it takes the necessary vaccinations
that protect it from infectious diseases, to maintain the health of your children and family.

You should also make sure that your children are free of any kind of allergy, by conducting specialized
tests.