Researchers from the University of Toronto have found that children who grow up with a dog, have better health and are less likely to develop Crohn's disease.
Dr Williams Turpin, senior author of the study, said 'Our study seems to add to others that have explored the "hygiene hypothesis" which suggests that the lack of exposure to microbes early in life may lead to a lack of immune regulation toward environmental microbes.'
Crohn's disease is a long-term condition that causes inflammation of the lining of the digestive system. 'Living with Crohn's disease can be difficult at times,' the NHS said. 'Unpredictable flare-ups and regular check-ups with your care team can disrupt school, work and your social life.'
The researchers studied data from nearly 4,300 first-degree relatives of people with Crohn's disease. They looked at various factors, including family size, the presence of dogs or cats as household pets, the number of bathrooms in the house, living on a farm, drinking unpasteurised milk and drinking well water.
The data revealed that a dog, ages 5 to 15, were linked with healthier gut permeability and balance between microbes in the gut and the body's immune system, factors which can protect against Crohn's disease.
'We did not see the same results with cats, though we are still trying to determine why,' Dr Turpin said. 'It could potentially be because dog owners get outside more often with their pets or live in areas with more green space, which has been shown previously to protect against Crohn's.'