INTERVENTION:
To have pets in the home before the infant is born.
INTERVENTION GOAL:
To decrease risk of allergies.
EVIDENCE supporting INTERVENTION:
A 2008 study with 275 children found that exposure to dogs at the time of birth decreased the risk of allergy and wheezing.
A larger study several years later (2012) found that pet ownership in the first 2 years of life was most protective of future allergies
A 2007 study found that the protective benefit of prevention due to early dog ownership was only seen in families at low risk for allergic disease.
POTENTIAL RISK:
Early exposure to pets in a high risk infant could result in allergy and ongoing exposure could worsen disease and symptoms.
INTERVENTION SPECIFICS:
Have a dog or cat in the home before the infant is born.