
Wanna know how to make your kid not allergic to your dog?
Ok — just get rid of it for a year!
We realize this is weird and impossible, but it's the scientific answer.
A study suggests that having a pet in the house during the first year of a child's life could halve the risk of them becoming allergic to the animals.
The results of the study showed that being exposed to the specific animal in the first year of life was the most important period of time.
Young men whose families had kept a dog during the first year of life had about half the risk of becoming allergic to dogs compared with non dog-owning families. Both men and women were about half as likely to be sensitized to cats if they had lived with a cat in the first year of life, compared to those who did not live with cats.
We think this sounds a little backwards, and some scientists agree.
Previous generations were exposed to more dirt, and the micro-organisms in it, which helped their immune systems develop resistance.
Plus, who's gonna get rid of their dog?
[Image via WENN.]
Tags: animals, child, dog, dogs, health, pet, scientists, what the what