Did you know that dog germs might be good for us?

It&rsquo-s not a secret that &lsquo-dogs are man&rsquo-s best friend&rsquo-. They are also known to boost our mood. But did you know that they can also boost our health? You read it right! Dogs can help boost our health. How? Well, it&rsquo-s got something to do with their germs. I know some of you are thinking it&rsquo-s yucky but actually it&rsquo-s not that bad. According to studies, owning a dog helps reduce stress and anxiety and lowers blood pressure. Now scientists believe that canines can help boost our immune system.

University of Arizona researchers are starting a new study to see if enough growth of human beneficial microorganisms can be encourage by the bacteria found on pet dogs. And if it encourages enough human beneficial microorganisms, it may lessen allergy reactions like itching, sneezing and hives. According to NPR reports, the study will check and analyze the skin and blood of both the owner and the pooch for more than three months in order to track any changes.

In her written statement, Kim Kelly, an anthropology doctoral student who is participating in the new research, said: &ldquo-We&rsquo-ve co-evolved with dogs over the millennia, but nobody really understands what it is about this dog-human relationship that makes us feel good about being around dogs. Is it just that they&rsquo-re fuzzy and we like to pet them, or is there something else going on under the skin? The question really is: Has the relationship between dogs and humans gotten under the skin? And we believe it has.”

Dogs and humans share germs. Studies show that overtime, dogs share lots of its bacteria to its owner/s. Also, households with canines as pets have a great bacterial diversity. Don&rsquo-t worry it won&rsquo-t hurt you rather it will help boost your immune system. Dr. Charles Raison, principal investigator for the study and psychiatry professor at the University of Arizona, said in a statement: &ldquo-We think dogs might work as probiotics to enhance the health of the bacteria that live in our guts. These bacteria, or &lsquo-microbiota,&rsquo- are increasingly recognized as playing an essential role in our mental and physical health, especially as we age.”

It&rsquo-s good to know that dogs don&rsquo-t only make great pets- they can also help build our immune system. One more reason to love your pooch even more!

epSos.de at Flickr.com