9 Science-Backed Reasons Pets Make You Healthier and Happier

Like with allergies, adequate exposure to dogs can protect infants from developing the skin condition eczema and even asthma. "Many people don't know there is a progression from eczema . . . to asthma," allergist Gagandeep Cheema noted in his study, which showed that even pregnant women can begin reaping these benefits for their unborn children. "We found a mother's exposure to dogs before the birth of a child is significantly associated with lower risk of eczema by age 2."