Babies have lower risk of developing asthma if they grow up around dogs

Dog allergens had more of a protective effect than cat allergens, researchers said - (Getty Images)

Babies who grow up around dogs are less likely to develop asthma, new research has found.

A study by a team from The Hospital for Sick Children in Canada has found that small children exposed to dog allergens in their home had a lower risk of developing asthma by the age of five, but exposure to cat allergens did not have the same protective impact.