Lots of couples think if they are expecting a baby, they'll have
to get rid of their pets because of dander, dirt and hair.
Actually a new study shows that kids and pets are a healthy
combo. According to a recent study from Finland, kids who grew
up with dogs or cats tended to have fewer respiratory infections
during their first year. Researchers followed 397 children from
pregnancy through their first year of life, and found that those
living with dogs developed 31 percent fewer respiratory tract
symptoms or infections, 44 percent fewer ear infections and
received 29 percent fewer antibiotic prescriptions. Cats also
proved to be beneficial buddies although not as dramatically as
dogs. Infants living with cats were still less likely to need
antibiotics, but only by 2 percent. Researchers offered an
opinion on why that might be. We speculated that maybe the dogs
somehow can bring dirt or soil inside the house, and then the
immune system is strengthened, or maybe it's something about the
animals themselves," sa