Is it safe to keep a Dog at home as a pet?
By dhawanbm
@dhawanbm (3705)
India
May 13, 2009 7:26am CST
Many people keep dogs and cats at home for their children and themselves as pets to entertain and have them as their family friends. But have you ever thought that many of these pets carry germs and other possible infections which when affect you are impossible to cure?
2 people like this
10 responses
@urbandekay (18278)
•
14 May 09
Yes, it is perfectly safe and indeed, beneficial. Children bought up in homes where dogs are kept have been found to be healthier, perhaps the exposure to germs strengthens their immune system?
all the best urban
@urbandekay (18278)
•
16 May 09
Children run less risk of being sensitive to allergens if there is a dog in the house in the early years of their lives, scientists have found.
The conclusion, based on a six-year study of 9,000 children, adds weight to the theory that growing up with a pet trains the immune system to be less sensitive to potential triggers for allergies such as asthma, eczema and hay fever.
The “hygiene theory” of allergy holds that modern life has simply become too clean, meaning that babies’ immune systems are not exposed to enough germs to develop normally.
Having a dog provides enough dirt of the right kind, the new German study suggests. But it may be important that baby meets dog early enough to affect the immune system as it develops. “Our results show clearly that the presence of a dog in the home during subjects’ infancy is associated with a significantly low level of sensitisation to pollens and inhaled allergens,” said Joachim Heinrich of the National Research Centre for Environmental Health in Munich.
The same protective effect was not seen in children who had frequent contact with dogs but none at home.
all the best urban
@maximax8 (31046)
• United Kingdom
14 May 09
I have 2 pet dogs and 2 children. We are all healthy. I get much enjoyment from walking my dogs and playing games with them. They have a vet and a dog groomer that give additional care to them.
Children can get much out of having a pet dog such as a caring way and happiness. Washing hands can kill any germs and my dogs haven't given any of my family an infection. Some breeds are really reliable around children so it is worth reading about what sort of dog will suit most of all.
My dogs are called Secret and Magic. They are miniature poodles. 
@biggerb (2024)
• India
14 May 09
I think its very safe if you get your pet from a reliable source and as long as you keep your pet clean and hygienic its absolutely safe. I have a dog as a pet.I bathe him once a week. I brush him twice a day so that the house is not full of his hair droppings and I make sure I give him his vaccines regularly.I de-worm him once a month.I do not have any problems with him.Whenever he is sick the vet comes to check it out.He is inside the house most of the time its only at bed time that goes to his room.I think when they looked after properly its absolutely safe.There is nothing better than keeping a pet.I vouch for it.
@rymebristol (1808)
• Philippines
14 May 09
dogs are supposedly our own body guard, security guard and our best buddy so it is definitely safe to have a pet dog in the house. we had been keeping dog as far as i can remember, we love dogs, when we were still young, my siblings fight over to what would be the appropriate name for our dog, and guess who wins the fight?...my mom hahaha 
to name a few of our dogs; spot, conan (he is my favorite), cloud, choy, brownie, blacky, maxi, saudi, and now i have a dog named ASERO 
.
dogs are great companions, they bark when they know that there is someone in the backyard or in front of the house. we are secure when there is a dog in the house.
to name a few of our dogs; spot, conan (he is my favorite), cloud, choy, brownie, blacky, maxi, saudi, and now i have a dog named ASERO .
dogs are great companions, they bark when they know that there is someone in the backyard or in front of the house. we are secure when there is a dog in the house.
@lelin1123 (15595)
• Puerto Rico
13 May 09
If you take care of your pet with regular vet visits, updated with their shots, kept grooms there really shouldn't be a problem. I have had a shih Tsu for the past 11 years with no majors problems and I got him from a friend when the dog was a year old.
@rosekiss (30414)
• Eugene, Oregon
13 May 09
I have two dogs, which are always in the house, and nothing has happened, I got one from a breeder, and the other from a pet store. I did have both of them checked by a vet and they have also been vaccinated, so they are pretty healthy. Mine are always inside as they don't fair well outside. They are put outside to do their jobs, but then I let them right back in. I hve never worried about germs as I take them to the vet when necessary. I will always continue to do so. I walk them everyday, weahter permitting, as it drains their energy and gives me a chance to get out, and see nature. They are my companions since I live alone. Have a good day, and happy mylotting.
@swanniesbaby (309)
• Philippines
13 May 09
Well having a pet at home is very beneficial even for kids.. at a young and tnder age they will learn lot's of things like being responsible and about caring. and It really depends on you if your pet would be clean or not. If you maintain yur pets, they can cleaner than you.
@vanadis (11)
• Sweden
14 May 09
Are you thinking of the diseases that comes from taking in dogs from rescue shelters in other countries?
Because that i wouldn't recommend.
They could carry diseases we don't have in the country they come to.
But buying a dog or cat in your own country or take it from a rescue shelter in you hometown should be rather safe.
And naturally have the dog properly vaccinated and examined buy a veterinary.
A fact is also that the more we clean up our environment the more fragile we will be.
All those cleaning chemicals and all this filtering of all kind of air and water isn't always beneficial for our health.
We have to be exposed in miner grades to natural bacteria and such to build up our natural immune defenses.
So, a dog is a rather good idea in that aspect of our life. :-)
@nv_jenn (207)
• Canada
13 May 09
I guess I don't believe this. We have 3 cats and a dog. And we are going to breed our dog today to get a puppy. Pets are clean animals if you take care of them properly. They will be dirty or disgusting if you neglect them. Other than that house pets are get friends!
