Children who live in households with dogs are 44% less likely to contract an ear infection and 29% less likely to need antibiotics than children who live in homes without dogs, according to the Women's and. net Dogs have long been known as man's best friend. But it appears that dogs also provide certain health benefits to children.. Keeping a dog helps protect against infections and respiratory problems.

Researchers found that children who lived in homes with dogs spent less than a week suffering from ear infections, coughs or runny noses.. In addition, they are less likely to need antibiotics.. Living with cats is also good for children's health, but to a lesser extent..

A certain amount of pollution in the home helps babies' immune systems mature.

Previous research has shown that having a pet in the home reduces the likelihood of developing allergies in children..

The latest study by researchers at the University of Kuopio in Finland tracked the health of 397 children during their first year of life.. Parents filled out weekly diaries from when the child was nine weeks old and recorded information about the child's health, as well as contact with cats and dogs..

Based on these diaries and a questionnaire completed at the end of the year, the researchers found that 35% of children spent most of the first year of life with a beloved dog and 24% spent in the house with a cat..

The healthiest children were those whose dogs spent no more than six hours a day in the house. This could be key to good infant health, researchers say, as animals that spend more time outside the home bring home more dirt and bacteria that boost the immune system..

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