June 13, 2011 -- Having a dog or cat at home during the first year of life may help prevent pet allergies later on.

Researchers say parents often worry whether having animals in the home will increase the risk of their children developing pet allergies. But a new study suggests that’s not the case.

In contrast, researchers found that young adults who had a dog or cat at home as infants were only about half as likely to develop a significant amount of antibodies to dog or cat allergens, a process called allergic sensitization.

“This research provides further evidence that experiences in the first year of life are associated with health status later in life, and that early life pet exposure does not put most children at risk of being sensitized to these animals later in life,” researcher Ganesa Wegienka, PhD, of the department of biostatistics and research epidemiology at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, says in a news release.