We all know that dogs make you happier in life, but it’s now been scientifically proven that they may also make you healthier. Specifically, as reported by Reuters, researchers at Kuopio University Hospital in Finland performed a study that tested the effects of living with a dog on the health of babies.

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Eija Bergroth, the lead author, explained that the study suggested that contact with a dog can have a positive effect on a baby’s respiratory tract. She said, “Our findings support the theory that during the first year of life, animal contacts are important, possibly leading to better resistance to infectious respiratory illnesses during childhood.”

Bergroth and her team selected 397 infants and had their parents fill out weekly diaries from the time the child was nine weeks old. They wrote about their baby’s health and recorded their contact with pets. The researchers used the collection of information, such as which babies had fevers, which had ear infections, coughs, etc., and compared this information to which families had pets. The study showed that babies with no contact with dogs were healthy 65 percent of the time whereas those with dogs were healthy between 72 and 76 percent of the time. These healthier babies needed antibiotics less and got ear infections less as well.(dog walking services nyc)

Though the researchers acknowledged that there could be other variables responsible, they hypothesize that the extra dirt and germs brought inside by a dog may help the baby develop a stronger immune system.

Sounds good to us! What do you think?

Source: Reuters, Main image via picturesdepot.com