Dogs keep kids asthma on the leash

But cats? ...Not so meowch

- BY STEPHEN BEECH

BABIES who grow up around dogs are less likely to develop childhood asthma.

Researchers found that babies exposed to dog allergens in the home have a lower risk of developing asthma by five years of age. The research team from The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada, also studied babies' exposure to cat allergens, but did not find the same protective effect.

Team member Dr Jacob McCoy said: "Asthma is a very common chronic respiratory illness in children, with the highest rates in the first four years of life.

"It is caused by complex interactions between genetic factors and the environment, including infections, allergies and air pollution.

ALLERGENS

"Children spend most of their time indoors, so in this research we wanted to study allergens in the home.

"These are an important risk factor that we could potentially alter to reduce asthma."