Dr. Howard Smith Reports

Lassie May Prevent Childhood Allergies


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Vidcast: https://youtu.be/jwYD2vhtFZU

A dog at home to welcome a newborn will reduce that baby’s chances of developing skin allergies or wheezing by about half.  These are the findings of a University of Wisconsin’s pediatric department.

Researchers there followed 275 at-risk children born to parents with an allergy history over a 3 year period.  Those exposed to dogs just after birth were 56% less likely to develop atopic dermatitis and 48% less likely to develop wheezing.

The reasons for this phenomenon remain under study.  Meanwhile, if there is a family history of allergy, this result gives you one more reason to invite a dog into your family.

https://www.pediatrics.wisc.edu/featured-stories/allergies

#Dogs #allergy #wheezing #atopicdermatitis

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Dr. Howard Smith ReportsBy Howard G. Smith MD, AM