November 05, 2025

Babies Who Grow Up with Dogs Have Stronger Lungs and Lower Asthma Risk

7 minutes

Babies exposed to dog allergens early in life have about a 48% lower risk of developing asthma by age 5, and show stronger lung function compared to children raised in pet-free homes
Exposure to dogs helps 'train' your child's immune system, teaching it to tolerate harmless allergens instead of overreacting to them — a key factor in preventing asthma and allergies later in life
The protective effects are even greater in children genetically predisposed to poor lung health, showing that environmental exposure to dogs can offset inherited asthma risks
Children who grow up with female dogs or with multiple dogs in the home have a lower risk of asthma, likely due to reduced exposure to certain allergens and a richer variety of beneficial microbes
Beyond pets, improving indoor air quality, supporting gut and nasal microbiome health, and reducing toxins like seed oils and EMF exposure help strengthen your child's immune system and respiratory resilience

...more

By Dr. Mercola

4.6

14871,487 ratings

November 05, 2025

7 minutes

Babies exposed to dog allergens early in life have about a 48% lower risk of developing asthma by age 5, and show stronger lung function compared to children raised in pet-free homes
Exposure to dogs helps 'train' your child's immune system, teaching it to tolerate harmless allergens instead of overreacting to them — a key factor in preventing asthma and allergies later in life
The protective effects are even greater in children genetically predisposed to poor lung health, showing that environmental exposure to dogs can offset inherited asthma risks
Children who grow up with female dogs or with multiple dogs in the home have a lower risk of asthma, likely due to reduced exposure to certain allergens and a richer variety of beneficial microbes
Beyond pets, improving indoor air quality, supporting gut and nasal microbiome health, and reducing toxins like seed oils and EMF exposure help strengthen your child's immune system and respiratory resilience

...more