A Japanese study published in PLoS ONE reveals that babies exposed to pets, including dogs and cats, during pregnancy and early childhood may have a reduced risk of food allergies up to age three. The research assessed retrospective data from over 66,000 children, expanding on previous studies that primarily focused on the positive impact of dogs. Findings indicate that contact with dogs is linked to fewer instances of egg, milk, and nut allergies. Conversely, exposure to cats appears to correlate with a lower likelihood of egg, wheat, and soy allergies. However, the study also notes that exposure to hamsters is associated with an increased incidence of nut allergies.