Cats And Dogs Protect Kids From Stomach Bugs

New Scientist ^ | 9-15-2006 | Matt Kaplan

[blam]

Cats and dogs protect kids from stomach bugs

11:43 15 September 2006
NewScientist.com news service
Matt Kaplan

Pets can protect their young owners against common stomach bugs, according to new research.

Jane Heyworth at the University of Western Australia in Crawley, and colleagues 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, diarrhoea, 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.

[WashingtonSource]

Meow! Woof!

[GSlob]

Yes, but pets living in homes with children report much higher incidence of stress and other problems.

[stm]

Naaaah!

[leda]

Being licked and touched by pets may allow children to develop immunity from repeated low level exposure of pathogenic organisms, she suggests.

I would also suggest that exposure to germs goes beyond pets.

[PAR35]

They need to extend the study to identify whether it is dry food or canned food that is providing the benefits. My guess is that the tykes are getting into the dry food.

[Jet Jaguar]

ping.

[vbmoneyspender]

LOL. They may be eating other things too.

[Man50D]

One question is does the child who has a bigger pet tend to be less ill than a child with a smaller pet? My family had two St. Bernards when I was a kid. One was 180lbs. Researchers should do a study comparing a kid with a Saint Bernard to a kid who has a Chihuahua. LOL!

[annie laurie]

Ping

[Samwise]

That is the perfect picture for this thread. :^)

[Slings and Arrows]

Our first, last, and only line of defense...

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[MarkL]

They need to extend the study to identify whether it is dry food or canned food that is providing the benefits. My guess is that the tykes are getting into the dry food.

I was in a PetSmart a while back, and this woman brought in her dog on a leash and her little boy... Well, she was so busy with the dog, that she lost track of the little kid, who wandered over to the pet treat "buffet" and started helping himself. He was on his third or fourth doggie treat before one of the PetSmart staffers noticed!

Mark

[beckysueb]

Yes, but pets living in homes with children report much higher incidence of stress and other problems.

Thats true. I feel sorry for animals living in a house with kids. Alot of the time, parents don't teach their kids respect for animals and the animals are at the mercy of the kids. I even seen people punish the animal or worse, kill it, for defending itself from kids inflicting severe pain on it. I have seen very small children do unspeakable things to animals, serious enough to cause the death of the animal. Its sad.

[PAR35]

this woman brought in her dog on a leash and her little boy

Wrong one on the leash?

[Bella_Bru]

Might also have to do with increased handwashing. Most parents will remind their kids to wash their hands after playing with Fido and before dinner.