If your child has Asthma, you already know just how terrifying the disease can be when it’s at its worst. Whether your child only suffers the occasional bout of wheezing or full-on life-threatening attacks, it’s an incredibly helpless feeling to see your little one struggle just to breathe.
New treatments and research are making it easier than ever for you to keep your child healthy, safe, and well. Sadly, we still have a long way to go in finding a cure. In the meantime, parents, caregivers, and medical care teams continue to find new and innovative ways to help kids be well. This includes identifying and managing potential risks that may increase the risk of Asthma development before it occurs.
One of the most important debates raging right now is the question of exactly how pets impact children with breathing difficulties. More and more often, research is identifying a link between dog ownership and lower rates of Asthma. Other studies show that owning any pet at all raises risks instead. The truth, as it is with most debates, really lies somewhere in the middle.
Pets, Asthma & Safety
The topic of pets in the home has always been slightly contentious for parents of childhood Asthmatics. For decades, doctors believed that owning a pet was simply too risky; it would trigger attacks and potentially raise the risk of serious harm. To that end, they usually advised parents to refrain from adopting pets period.
Fortunately, we now know that isn’t always true. Whether or not you should own pets depends on many factors, including the child, the household, and even the pet in question. Now, one prominent study is revealing a clear-cut difference in risk between owning dogs and owning cats; the first lowers the risk, while the second may increase it significantly.
Recent Study Reveals New Findings
We’ve known for quite some time that dogs reduce the risk of Asthma in children; the first study confirming such a statistic took place in the mid-2000s. Consecutive studies confirmed the original findings, leaving many relieved parents and excited children suddenly able to adopt pets safely after all.
The most recent study, which was held at Imperial College in the United Kingdom, reviewed 20,000 children who were broken up into five different age groups. Only some of the children were diagnosed with breathing difficulties (mostly including wheezing, but not necessarily Asthma), while the rest were largely healthy, uncomplicated patients.
Wheezing is one of the primary early indicators of asthma. An average of 75 percent of all children who experience wheezing in infancy or toddlerhood eventually develop full-blown Asthma by 20.
One of the primary variables researchers tracked within the current study was the presence of dogs and cats in the home. What they found over time was a clear indication that children who experienced wheezing early in life were far less likely to go on to develop Asthma under certain conditions. That condition was mainly whether or not they shared their home with a pet, and if so, what pet they shared it with.
Dogs, for example, caused a statistically significant decline in Asthma risk. Conversely, if children experienced wheezing, but shared a home with cats, they were more likely to go on to develop full-blown asthma eventually instead.
Exposure to Bacteria May Lessen Allergies
We know now that dog ownership for kids with mild Asthma, wheezing, and/or allergies may very well be a possibility or even advised, but why exactly is this? What is it about dogs specifically (and not cats) that makes them so beneficial to kids early in life?
Researchers aren’t sure exactly why dog ownership is correlated with a reduction in Asthma risk, but they believe it may have something to do with the fact that dogs introduce children to bacteria in infancy and toddlerhood. While this may seem counterintuitive, exposure to relatively harmless bacteria is correlated with the development of a stronger immune system, fewer autoimmune issues, and fewer allergic reactions later in life. Theoretically, this might mean that exposure to dogs can actually strengthen a child’s immune system.
But that doesn’t mean that dogs don’t present any risk at all; researchers caution parents to take results with a grain of salt. Most dogs still carry allergens in the form of pet dander, making it possible for highly allergic children to suffer symptoms that outweigh any benefits they may experience along the way. Parents should closely monitor early interactions with dogs to determine whether exposure is truly beneficial.
Dogs vs. Cats
Researchers also identified a clear correlation between cat ownership and an increase in Asthma-like symptoms. What makes cats different from dogs is the fact that they’re typically cleaner animals than dogs. They’re fastidious, constantly washing themselves, which automatically removes bacteria from their fur and bodies. Thus, children aren’t exposed to the same bacteria levels when they own a cat.
But there’s more to the story: a cat’s constant washing also significantly increases the amount of dander and saliva present on their fur. As dander and saliva are essentially the biggest allergen trigger found on cats, this essentially means they’re constantly adding more allergens to the home environment. Constant exposure to allergens can worsen Asthma symptoms or escalate wheezing from a minor problem to a serious, long-term illness.
Dog Breed Difference
One aspect of pet ownership the study didn’t review was the potential influence of owning specific breeds, including breeds previously identified as carrying a low allergy risk in the first place. This group includes dogs like the Vizsla and the Portuguese Water dog. It remains currently unknown whether choosing a hypoallergenic dog breed may further reduce a child’s risk of developing breathing disorders later in life.
As for cats, it isn’t clear whether or not breed or pedigree has any impact on allergy risk. What we do know is that certain cats naturally seem to carry more dander, and that may increase the risk of breathing difficulties from the moment of adoption. At least one study has identified a correlation between increased risk and owning black cats, while others show that the Persian and Maine Coone’s long hair may cause symptoms to flare. Sphynx cats, Siberian cats, and Russian Blues, on the other hand, may present a lowered allergy risk.
The Wrap-Up
Parents should still exercise caution when adopting pets, especially if children have already demonstrated a propensity for allergic reactions. However, it’s clear that a significant amount of empirical evidence supports adopting a dog early in your child’s life for better health later on. Parents should carefully consider this evidence when making decisions, especially if little ones demonstrate early childhood wheezing without the presence of a specific Asthma diagnosis.
If your child has mild allergies, you may still be able to adopt. Choose a hypoallergenic breed, and don’t be afraid to get a little bit dirty outdoors now and again. There’s nothing like good, clean air and fresh Earth to encourage healthy wellness in both little ones and their furry friends.