Background: In our prior study of 643 children, ages 4-11 years, children with pet dogs had lower anxiety scores than children without pet dogs. This follow-up study examines whether exposure to pet dogs or cats during childhood reduces the risk of adolescent mental health (MH) disorders.
Methods: Using a retrospective cohort study design, we merged our prior study database with electronic medical record (EMR) data to create an analytic database. Common MH diagnoses (anxiety, depression, ADHD) occurring from the time of prior study enrollment to 10/27/21 were identified using ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes. We used proportional hazards regression to compare time to MH diagnoses, between youths with and without pets. From 4/1/20 to 10/27/21, parents and youth in the prior study were interviewed about the amount of time the youth was exposed to a pet and how attached s/he was to the pet. Exposure included having a pet dog at baseline, cumulative exposure to a pet dog or cat during follow-up, and level of pet attachment. The main outcomes were anxiety diagnosis, any MH diagnosis, and MH diagnosis associated with a psychotropic prescription.
Results: EMR review identified 571 youths with mean age of 14 years (range 11-19), 53% were male, 58% had a pet dog at baseline. During follow-up (mean of 7.8 years), 191 children received a MH diagnosis: 99 were diagnosed with anxiety (52%), 61 with ADHD (32%), 21 with depression (11%), 10 with combined MH diagnoses (5%). After adjusting for significant confounders, having a pet dog at baseline was associated with lower risk of any MH diagnosis (HR = 0.74, p = .04) but not for anxiety or MH diagnosis with a psychotropic prescription. Among the 241 (42%) youths contacted for follow-up, parent-reported cumulative exposure to pet dogs was borderline negatively associated with occurrence of any MH diagnosis (HR = 0.74, p = .06). Cumulative exposure to the most attached pet (dog or cat) was negatively associated with anxiety diagnosis (HR = 0.57, p = .006) and any MH diagnosis (HR = 0.64, p = .013).
Conclusion: Cumulative exposure to a highly attached pet dog or cat is associated with reduced risk of adolescent MH disorders.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9532803 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12887-022-03636-0 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Canine Stem Cell-derived Exosomes for Lung Inflammation: Efficacy of Intratracheal Intravenous Administration in an Acute Lung Injury Mouse Model.
In Vivo
December 2024
Department of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
Background/aim: Acute lung injury (ALI) is an important pathological process in acute respiratory distress syndrome; however, feasible and effective treatment strategies for ALI are limited. Recent studies have suggested that stem cell-derived exosomes can ameliorate ALI; however, there remains no consensus on the protocols used, including the route of administration. This study aimed to identify the appropriate route of administration of canine stem cell-derived exosomes (cSC-Exos) in ALI.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEstimation of the size, density, and demographic distribution of the UK pet dog population in 2019.
Sci Rep
December 2024
Dogs Trust, London, UK.
There is limited knowledge about the size of the UK dog population. This makes it difficult to reliably monitor population dynamics and management. A repeatable method of measuring the UK dog population, including owned and unowned dogs i.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPrevalence of common conditions and associated mortalities of dogs treated at the small animal clinic, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
BMC Vet Res
December 2024
School of Statistics and Planning, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
Background: In developing countries such as Uganda, domestic dogs suffer high burdens of infectious diseases often with high mortalities. Surveillance data on the common diseases and associated mortalities is however scanty. We thus, present results of a retrospective study of common clinical conditions and mortalities of dogs brought for treatment at the small animal clinic, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEdible insects as a source of dietary protein for companion animals with food responsive enteropathies - perspectives and possibilities.
Pol J Vet Sci
June 2024
Department of Clinical Diagnostics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Oczapowskiego 13, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland.
The incidence of chronic enteropathies (CE), in particular food-responsive enteropathies (FRE) in dogs, is on the rise in veterinary practice. The symptoms of these digestive disorders cannot be alleviated with the use of commercial hypoallergenic feeds. The applicability of novel materials in hypoallergenic dog feeds is limited, and edible insects could pose a viable alternative.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEvaluation of a 70 kDa Excreted/Secreted Coproantigen Immunoassay for the Detection of in Dogs.
Iran J Parasitol
January 2024
Department of Invertebrates Zoology, Biological Sciences School, Autonomous University of Nuevo León, San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León, México.
Background: We aimed to develop a sandwich ELISA, using polyclonal antibodies against excretory/secretory (E/S) antigens specific to coproantigens present in -positive dogs.
Methods: Antibodies were produced at Biological Sciences School, Autonomous University of Nuevo León, in 2023 by immunization of rabbits with antigenic extracts from in vitro cultures of larvae. Assays were performed on 100 stool samples from pet dogs, measuring sensitivity, specificity, and cross-reactivity against other parasitic infections.
Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!