Dogs (But Not Cats) May Protect Against Childhood Asthma, Study Says

MONDAY, Sept. 29, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Babies who grow up around dogs might be less likely to develop childhood asthma, a new study says.

However, they don’t get the same protection from growing up around cats, according to findings presented Sunday in Amsterdam at a meeting of the European Respiratory Society.

“We found that, while cat allergens showed no association, exposure to dog allergens was linked to improved lung function and a reduced risk of asthma,” researcher Jacob McCoy said in a news release. He’s a graduate student at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada.