Does having pets help your immune system?
Does Having Pets Help Your Immune System? Does having pets help your immune system There are many benefits to having pets, but do they actually help your immune system? This article explores the potential benefits of having a dog and how having a pet can affect your child's immune system. You'll learn about the role pets play in children's gut microbiome and the benefits of probiotic supplements. And we'll explore how pet ownership affects children's skin and immune system. Influence of pets on immune system The influence of pets on immune system is well documented. The immune system of a kitten or puppy is protected from disease by its mother's antibodies. Vaccines cannot protect the pet against disease because the immune system of a mother interferes with the vaccine. Younger kittens and puppies are also more likely to contract chronic illnesses and even die. The age at which a kitten or puppy can become permanently infected with a disease varies. Nevertheless, kittens and puppies younger than 16 weeks old are particularly susceptible. Older cats rarely become infected with disease or die of it. Elderly patients have declining immune responses due to reduced B and T cells and decreased interferon. A recent study found that infants who had dogs or cats as pets had greater IL-10 and IL-13 responses than those exposed to neither dogs nor cats. Compared with children who had neither a dog nor a cat, a dog-exposed infant had a 48% increase in IL-10 and a 24% increase in IL-13 responses. In addition to these associations, researchers also included other factors in their analyses such as parental allergies and asthma, daycare and presence of siblings. Another study found that children who lived with dogs had higher levels of IgE, which is an antibody produced by the immune system in response to allergens. Studies have also shown that children who lived with pets were at lower risk for developing allergies and asthma. According to the study, if a child has a dog or a cat, their immune system is primed for avoiding allergies. In fact, infants who live with pets have less than half the odds of developing food allergies. Influence of dogs on children's gut microbiome Researchers have now determined that pets, especially dogs, can alter the composition of a child's gut microbiome. The findings suggest that dogs can influence the composition of a child's gut microbiota, and the effects of this can be long lasting. During the first three months of life, bacteria from dogs can be transferred from a mother's dog to her unborn child. According to one study, dogs can reduce the transmission of group B streptococcus, which can cause serious pneumonia in newborns. A study carried out by Song and colleagues found that the presence of household dogs in children's homes altered the composition of their gut microbiota. Compared to children whose families did not own dogs, children living with pets showed greater amounts of Bacteroides, Ruminococcus, and Lachnospiraceae. Researchers also observed a different composition of children's gut microbiota when their dogs were given probiotic supplements containing three canine strains. It is important to note that living on a farm might also reduce the risk of developing allergies in children. However, the evidence on animal-human interaction and the gut microbiome is still developing and may differ from study to study. A 2015 study revealed that more interactive toddlers had a wider range of gut microbes compared to less-interactive ones. Further research into the link between animal-human interaction and gut health is necessary to understand the full impact of dogs on a child's gut microbiome. Researchers found that the presence of certain microbes in children's gut reflected changes in the dog's gut microbiota. A reduction in the presence of Bacteroides fragilis and Bifidobacterium species significantly decreased in children who lived with dogs. In contrast, a reduction in these two groups increased the amount of Faecalibacterium species in children who had their dogs with them. Influence of pet ownership on children's skin condition Interestingly, studies have suggested that pet ownership may reduce the risk of asthma and allergies in children. Even better, exposure to dogs during infancy may prevent atopic dermatitis. However, if you don't own a pet, you should think twice before giving your child a cat. Children who have pet allergies are more likely to develop the disease. However, children who do not have allergies to animals are less likely to develop it. The study also found that children who were exposed to animals as young children had lower nasal allergy risks. Exposure to animals as a young child decreased the risk of nasal allergies in adolescents. The study was conducted in 13 countries, but the results were consistent. Children who grew up in a farm or a household with pets were found to be at a lower risk for asthma. While it remains to be seen how exposure to pets may impact children's skin conditions, these findings are not conclusive. The influence of pet ownership on children's skin condition was first observed in children who were exposed to animals while playing at home. However, the results of the study showed that the pets also improved children's mood and increased their levels of positive emotions. In the study, autistic children who were exposed to a dog for a period of time decreased their levels of cortisol by 58 percent; whereas the levels increased when the dog was removed. Furthermore, children who spent time with an animal-assisted therapy session had lower blood pressure and heart rate, which may be related to pet ownership. Pets also affect children's behavior and attitude towards others. Children who own pets show greater empathy for others. They become empathetic toward others, as both parents and children share the responsibility of caring for an animal. Moreover, they are more likely to name a pet as the person they should turn to if they have a problem. It is important to remember that having pets makes children feel accepted and loved - a huge benefit for a child who has experienced it. Influence of probiotics on dog's immune system Probiotics can improve a dog's immune function. These bacteria have a favourable effect on the intestinal lining of the dog's body. They increase mucosal antibody production, decrease toxicity, and promote stronger immune function. A healthy barrier can also support increased mucosal antibody production and inhibit the growth of potentially pathogenic bacteria. Probiotics have also been shown to decrease the risk of enteric infections, which can occur as a result of acid-lowering medications. Several types of bacteria have been found in the fecal samples of young dogs. These include Lactobacillus animalis, Sutterella stercoricanisin, and Bacteroides coprophilus. Some of these bacteria are essential to the immune system. Fortunately, the effects of probiotics can be measured in both animals and humans. A recent study found that the effects of probiotics on the immune system of dogs are age-related and are likely to be similar to human health. The research showed that serum IgG and SIgA levels increased in dogs treated with probiotics, and fecal SIgA levels were significantly higher than in the non-treated control group. Additionally, the serum levels of SIgA and IFN-a were significantly higher in probiotic-treated dogs than in the non-treated group. Moreover, the dogs had lower levels of TNF-a and SIgA than the non-treated group. Lastly, probiotics in dog food are beneficial. They improve your dog's digestive health and may also prevent a host of diseases. Probiotics can be supplemented with prebiotics. They are better taken in combination. But before you give your dog probiotics, make sure to follow label instructions and adjust human doses based on their weight. Similarly, when giving your dog fiber-only supplements, it is best to start with low dosages and gradually increase the dose until no sign of diarrhea or gas appears. Influence of antimicrobials on dog's immune system Although antimicrobials are an excellent treatment for gastrointestinal diseases, their overuse can have harmful effects on the host microbiome and contribute to antimicrobial resistance. This is why antibiotics should be avoided in healthy, systemically sound dogs. Until more precise criteria are developed, the use of antibiotics in dogs should be based on clinical judgment. Symptoms of GI diseases in dogs should not be treated with antibiotics, but they should be examined by veterinarians to determine if they are necessary. Antibiotics can weaken the immune system in dogs by causing diarrhea and vomiting, and are particularly effective against bacterial infections. But they also compromise the dog's immune system by ignoring the functions of canine body cells. Bacteria have cell walls, whereas canine blood and tissue cells don't. Bacteria and cells are different in their cell membranes and function differently. Antibiotics also affect the production of proteins and DNA. Although antibiotics can destroy the bacteria that causes an illness, they also affect the beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract. This unbalance can cause gastrointestinal disorders, metabolic problems, and immune system disruptions. Some antibiotics can also lead to yeast infections in dogs. As a result, it's important to avoid using these drugs if you want to protect your dog's immune system. There are many benefits of probiotics for dogs. Studies have shown that some strains of C. difficile isolated from dogs are able to produce toxins in vitro. These toxins severely impair the tight junctions in both human and canine cell lines. Thus, the authors speculate that the presence of bile acid dehydrogenase bacteria is protective in dogs. Other strains, including Sphingobacterium faecium, have been implicated in the protective role of this species.
