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flag Early dog exposure may reduce asthma risk in children, a Toronto study finds.

flag Children who grow up in homes with dogs may have a lower risk of developing asthma by age five, according to a Toronto-based study of over 1,000 children. flag Researchers analyzed dust samples from homes when children were 3 to 4 months old, measuring allergens like Can f1 from dogs, Fel d1 from cats, and endotoxin. flag At age five, 6.6% had asthma, but those exposed to higher levels of dog allergen Can f1 showed about a 48% lower risk, especially among those with higher genetic risk for poor lung function. flag No protective effect was found for cat allergens or endotoxin. flag The study suggests early exposure to dog allergens may influence immune development, though the exact mechanism is unclear. flag Findings challenge prior advice to remove pets from homes of at-risk children and highlight the need for further research into long-term effects.

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