Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Allergic symptoms in dogs and owners linked to city living
By Hakanen, Emma et al.·Published in Scientific reports·2018·Department of Biosciences·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Urban environment predisposes dogs and their owners to allergic symptoms.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A nationwide survey in Finland found that dogs living in urban areas are more likely to show signs of allergies, such as itching and skin problems. The study also revealed that dog owners in these urban settings reported similar allergic symptoms. Interestingly, dogs with allergic symptoms were often owned by people who also had allergies. The research suggests that living in rural areas, where there is more space and contact with animals, may help reduce the risk of allergies in both dogs and their owners.
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Abstract
Our companion-animals, dogs, suffer increasingly from non-communicable diseases, analogous to those common in humans, such as allergic manifestations. In humans, living in rural environments is associated with lower risk of allergic diseases. Our aim was to explore whether a similar pattern can be found in dogs, using a nation-wide survey in Finland (n = 5722). We characterised the land-use around dog's home at the time of birth as well as around its current home, and described several lifestyle factors. The severity of owner-reported allergic symptoms in dogs was estimated with a comprehensive set of questions, developed by experts of canine dermatology. Also, the prevalence of diagnosed allergies in dog owners was recorded. The results indicate that allergic symptoms are more prevalent in urban environments both in dog owners and in dogs (accounting the effect of dog breed). Several factors related to rural living, such as bigger family size and regular contact with farm animals and other pets, were also protective against allergic symptoms in dogs. Interestingly, allergic dogs were more likely to have allergic owners than healthy dogs were. Therefore, we suggest that the mutual presence of allergic symptoms in both species indicates common underlying causal factors of allergic diseases.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29371634/