Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have published findings from a major study examining the impact of dog ownership on children with asthma and airway allergies. The study, published on March 26, 2026, followed 99,389 children diagnosed with asthma and airway allergies until they turned 19 or until the study concluded in 2023.
According to the research, continuous exposure to dogs does not appear to increase the long-term risk of moderate to severe asthma in children with asthma and airway allergies. However, the study found a slightly increased risk for acute asthma episodes requiring emergency care or high use of bronchodilator medications among children living with dogs.
There are limited studies on whether living with a dog or getting rid of the dog affects asthma outcomes in children with allergic asthma, which is why we wanted to study this at the population level.
Professor Catarina Almqvist Malmros, a pediatrician at Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital and professor at Karolinska Institutet, explained the study's purpose: "There are limited studies on whether living with a dog or getting rid of the dog affects asthma outcomes in children with allergic asthma, which is why we wanted to study this at the population level."
The children were categorized based on their exposure to dogs from diagnosis onward: no exposure, continuous exposure, or discontinued exposure. The study found no clear association between continuous dog exposure and moderate to severe asthma over time. After two, four, and six years from diagnosis, asthma severity was approximately the same in children with and without dogs.
Our findings can be support in conversations between the family and healthcare professionals. Having or keeping the dog does not seem to affect asthma severity long-term, but it may slightly increase the risk of acute asthma.
Resthie Putri, a postdoctoral researcher at Karolinska Institutet, noted: "Our findings can be support in conversations between the family and healthcare professionals. Having or keeping the dog does not seem to affect asthma severity long-term, but it may slightly increase the risk of acute asthma."
The researchers suggest that dog allergens may persist in homes for many months and are common in public environments like schools, even for families without pets. A limitation of the study was the inability to distinguish between patients with dog allergies and other airway allergies.