A new study published in the Clinical and Experimental Allergy journal has found that children who are exposed to pets as infants are less likely to develop pet allergies later in life. Researchers surveyed the parents of 556 kids about their children’s exposure to indoor cats and dogs. When they turned 18, the children were tested for allergies to both dogs and cats. All those who lived with indoor cats during the first year of their life were 48% less likely to have cat allergies as teens. Interestingly, boys exposed to dogs during the first year of their life were 50% less likely to develop dog allergies later in life, but no effect was found for girls with early exposure to indoor dogs. Though somewhat puzzling in some respects, these data suggest that there might be both an optimal time for exposure, as well as a particular group of people who benefit from exposure during those optimal times. We are quite a ways from defining that time period or that group, doctors say.
It is important to note that many studies investigated the effects of pet exposure on allergies have been conducted, and the results have been mixed. In fact, some researchers have reported evidence that exposure to cats and dogs in infancy actually increases the likelihood of developing pet allergies. To its credit, this latest study is the only one to follow children until 18 years of age; however, its results, as well as the results of other studies, should be taken with a grain of salt. We don’t yet know enough about how exposure to animals early in life affects allergies to either recommend that you rush out and buy a pet, or that you get rid of the pets you have.
