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Pets are more than just good company
Filed under: Health & Safety: Babies, Nutrition: Health
We have a menagerie of pets: dogs, cats, and a ferret. My children have always had them around since they were babies. Some may not think this a good thing, but an article in Epidemiology and Infection suggests otherwise. According to the research, pets can protect their young owners against common stomach bugs. The investigators found that incidences of gastroenteritis – commonly called stomach flu – were significantly lower in young children living in homes with pets, than those living without. For six weeks, the team closely observed 965 children aged four to six, noting incidences of nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting. Children that had a cat or dog in their household were 30% less likely to have gastroenteritis symptoms than children who lived in homes without pets. Previous studies have shown that people who keep pets suffer fewer health problems, such as heart disease and depression. This is good knowledge to have as I clean up cages and the occasional mess. There are times when I wonder of so many animals is too much work, but knowing all of the side benefits sure helps. What about you? What sort of four legged creatures share your home?
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
9-21-2006 @ 12:09PM
Stacy B said...We have three male indoor cats~ Larry, Linus, & Sonny. Someday, we'd love to get a dog, too! I believe I also read a study that suggested that babies who were exposed tp pet dander were *less* likely to develop allergies later on.
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9-21-2006 @ 12:30PM
creative-type dad said...Only one (a dog), we can't handle anymore. Our neighbors have a reptile zoo. If our daughter wants to see more animals we tell her to visit there house.
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9-21-2006 @ 12:54PM
Tamyu said...This is incredibly true for us. I had to beg and beg my husband to let us get a cat (or two!) last year, and I used these sort of studies to help push him to the OK line. My son is *supposed* to have a weak immune system - I say "supposed" because he has only caught one cold and one stomach virus since he was born. If our cats are helping us there, then GREAT.
I`ve also heard that having a pet around can lower the occurrence of allergies. I always had pets around when I was small and have no allergies now. My husband never had a pet and is plagued by them... So far, our son has yet to show any signs of allergies.
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9-24-2006 @ 7:43PM
Cathy said...Saying that pets prevent illnesses is like saying high ice cream sales raise the murder rates. Pets and their dander help people build better immune systems. Pets provide a psychological relationship that helps people be healthier mentally and physically. Dirt is our friend. ;)
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9-21-2006 @ 1:09PM
Marcia said...I am an animal lover, we have a gerbil, a rabbit, a cat, and a dog. We also have 3 fish tanks and an outdoor pond that also has fish in it. I'm not sure if they benefit my health or not, but I just love having them around and playing with them and hope my daughter will too once she gets old enough.
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9-21-2006 @ 2:18PM
ann adams said...Maybe that's why the girls have cast iron stomachs for the most part. No dogs for lack of space and yard but at present we have 3 cats and 1 white rat. The cat population changes constantly due the invisible sign on my house that says "sucker lives here".
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9-22-2006 @ 9:14AM
VL said...We have one dog, which we recently adopted from the shelter. We hope to rescue a rabbit before Christmas, and we will be aquiring my mom's dog when she moves into a smaller place.I could be wrong, but aren't allergy shots just allergens introduced to improve your bodies tolerance? My husband is mildly allergic to dogs, but the longer we have Clio, the less he reacts to her. Cats are a different story, which stinks because I would love to have one.
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