Epidemiological studies show that children who come into contact with dogs early in life are less likely to suffer from asthma and allergies. Responsible for this is probably the species of beneficial bacteria brought home by dogs that reduce the susceptibility to autoimmune diseases.
Some people have pets at home for utility reasons, but in modern society cats and dogs are most often kept for companionship. It may take a little effort, but their loyal friendship, fun, and unconditional love are usually worth it. Owning a pet can bring many obvious benefits to our lives: keeping a dog promotes physical activity, makes socializing easier, and also just makes us happy. As if that were not enough, we are just beginning to learn that pets, especially dogs, also make us he althy by bringing the outside world into our home. Yes, all those dirty paw marks on floors, carpets and furniture, and unremovable foul odors, have their value - in all this dirt there are millions of microbes that make our sterilized life so much closer to nature.
The effect of dogs on our microbiota was recently documented in two studies which found that having a dog (but not a cat) to ride outside changes the composition and diversity of the human microbiota. The first study showed that the microbiota of individual family members is more similar in homes with a dog than in homes without a dog. The same study also found that dog owners 'skin microbiota contains species of bacteria that are also found in dogs' mouths and in the ground. The microbiological analogies between dogs and their owners were so striking that scientists were able to match a dog to its owners only by analyzing samples of their microbiota.
Owning a dog changes the composition and diversity of the human microbiome.
In a second study, researchers noted that the presence of a dog was linked to a greater variety of microbes in domestic dust, and that many species of microbes found in this dust also live in the dog's owner's intestines. It seems like bringing the outside world home and licking everyone and everythingit is possible, dogs are a kind of microbial supply system that unifies the microbiota in the household.
Both studies also show that cats do not greatly influence their owners' microbiota, which is likely due to the differences in behavior between the two species. Dogs like to play and mess with people and lick everything. And the cats? Yes, it happens to them, but only when they feel we deserve their attention. Cats do not ask to be taken for a walk, and due to their tendency to disappear for days, they are not taken outside as often as dogs. Both are lovable pets, but when it comes to the microbes they give their owners, dogs are unrivaled. Better daily dose of soil microorganisms than the occasional mouse on the doormat …
What will the spit on the carpet bring
(…) Occasionally dogs will transmit disease to a child (or someone else) because they can harbor various types of worms (heartworms, tapeworms, roundworms, etc.) and pathogenic bacteria and viruses. However, these diseases are very rare in animals that are well cared for and receive regular veterinary care. Of course, if your dog looks sick, has diarrhea or has a rash or scabs on the skin, it would be a good idea to take him to the vet rather than let your baby roll around with a shaggy friend. On the other hand, the risk of contracting an infectious disease from a well-cared for dog is very low.
Children who come into contact with dogs early in life are less likely to suffer from asthma and allergies.
Moreover, having a dog that is allowed to run outside and play with children is beneficial for their he alth. Epidemiological studies show that children who come into contact with dogs early in life are less likely to develop asthma and allergies. In 2013, the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology published an article summarizing the results of twenty-one studies devoted to factors in the development of childhood allergies. It has been found that exposure of a woman to her dog during pregnancy or in the first year of a child's life reduces the risk of developing atopic dermatitis by 30 percent.
Several other studies have found that the presence of a dog (but not a cat) is also associated with a roughly 20 percent lower risk of developing asthma. These revelations have surprised allergists around the world who have recommended for years getting rid of pets in the home to alleviate allergies… In thisIn the event of an accident, it is worth considering finding a different home for your pet. (…) Parents and grandparents of all countries, but remember one thing: buying a dog just to reduce the risk of a child suffering from asthma is not a strong enough argument for having a pet. A dog is a great commitment, especially when there is a toddler in the house. Dogs require attention, training, walking, and money. If you don't feel like taking on this extra responsibility, it might be better to postpone the decision to buy a pet and instead let your child play with the dog with someone from your family or friends …
Why do dogs reduce the risk of allergies and asthma in children?
The strong link between dog ownership and a lower risk of asthma and allergies naturally raises the question of what is so special about dogs. We suggested that it was microbes in the dirt and dirt that the dog brings home, but some scientists remain skeptical that it may be some substance produced by dogs (a good example of what kind of things scientists like to argue about!) . The scales in favor of the theory of dirt microbes are tilted by a study by Dr. Susan Lynch of the University of California, San Francisco. Mice were exposed to dust samples collected from dog houses and dog houses, and it was found that mice given dust from dog houses were less likely to develop asthma.
Dogs carry beneficial bacteria, making humans less susceptible to autoimmune diseases.
Furthermore, the study looked at the type of bacteria in the dust samples and found a specific species,Lactobacillus johnsonii , associated with protecting mice from asthma. When scientists multiplied this bacterium in the laboratory and fed it to mice already dust-free, they found that it lowered the risk of asthma, proving that this species (and possibly other species) of beneficial bacteria is responsible, as well as the dogs that bring it. them home. Such research has important implications. If dogs carry bacteria that make humans less susceptible to autoimmune disease, it means dogs are spreading probiotic species that are beneficial to human he alth. What are these species? Can you grow them in a laboratory and give them to children? We need to learn a lot more in this area, and scientists are certainly working on it. However, it is already clear today that dogs and humans have a special relationship that goes beyond their loyal friendship. Dogs make us dirtier, and as we found out,children benefit from this kind of contact with dirt early in life.
This will be useful to youBook"Let them get dirty!"Dr. R. Brett Finlaya and Dr. Marie-Claire Arriety (Feeria Publishing House, Łódź 2022) is devoted to the role that useful microbes play in children's development. The authors describe what happens to a pregnant woman's body in terms of her microbiota and how it affects her baby throughout her life. They then discuss, from a microbiological perspective, the birth process, breastfeeding, introducing solid foods and the first years of a baby's life. They also deal with issues related to everyday life (Should we buy a pet? What to do with a pacifier that has fallen to the ground?) And the use of antibiotics. The second part of the book contains chapters on diseases that are spreading rapidly in our society and the microbes that appear to be influencing them. These diseases include obesity, asthma, diabetes, intestinal disorders, behavioral disorders, and mental disorders such as autism.
About the authorDr. B. Brett Finlay, Dr. Marie-Claire ArrietaDr. B. Brett Finlay is a Canadian microbiologist. For years, he has been analyzing the influence of bacteria on the development of diseases and human he alth, as well as developing new measures to fight infections. He is one of the world's leading experts in research into how bacteria infect organisms. He worked on vaccines against SARS and E. coli O157: H7. He is currently focusing on work on the pathogens of E. coli and salmonella, as well as investigating the role of the microflora in infections, asthma and malnutrition.
Dr. Marie-Claire Arrieta teaches at the University of Calgary, Canada. For 10 years he has been dealing with the intestinal microflora and immunology. Her research linking asthma in very young infants with a lack of essential species of gut bacteria is considered groundbreaking, with articles appearing in major scientific journals.