Study Examines Impact of Dog Ownership on Children's Asthma

Catarina Almqvist Malmros, a pediatrician at Astrid Lindgren Children’s Hospital and professor at the Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, noted the lack of prior evidence on how dog ownership impacts asthma outcomes. The research aimed to fill this gap at a population level.

The study found no significant correlation between continuous exposure to dogs and the development of moderate-to-severe asthma over time. Asthma severity levels measured at two, four, and six years post-diagnosis were comparable for children with and without dogs.

However, children living with dogs experienced a slightly higher risk of asthma exacerbations, including episodes that required emergency care or increased use of reliever inhalers. This trend was consistent for both children who continued to live with dogs and those who had ceased dog ownership, as discontinuing dog ownership did not appear to improve asthma outcomes.

One factor that might explain these findings is that dog allergens often remain in homes for extended periods and can be present in public spaces like schools, even among families that do not have pets. A limitation noted in the study is that it did not differentiate between children with dog allergies and those with other types of airway allergies.

Resthie Putri, a postdoctoral researcher involved in the study, emphasized that these results can guide discussions between families and healthcare professionals regarding asthma management. The study was conducted in collaboration with researchers from Uppsala University and was funded by several Swedish research organizations.

The publication, titled "Dog exposure and subsequent asthma outcomes in children with asthma and allergy," was authored by Resthie R. Putri and others, and was made available online on March 20, 2026.