What pets are dangerous for children? Doctor Komarovsky's answer

Pets are incredibly useful for a child. Their presence strengthens the immune system: it has been proven that children who grow up next to the animal are less likely to suffer from allergies, dermatitis, asthma and obesity. In addition, the pet teaches the child responsibility and gives him the first opportunity to take care of someone. This increases the level of independence of the baby. However, for babies in the first year of life, many pets can pose a very serious danger. What animals should be kept away from the baby, Dr. Komarovsky said in his Instagram.

To start or not to start?

If a baby has just recently appeared in your house, it is highly undesirable to have a pet, says Evgeny Komarovsky. Firstly, unlike older children, animals in infants may well provoke allergies. The immunity of babies is still being formed, and it is in the first year of life that two fall at once

critical period of development of the child's immune system. At this time, you should not expose the protective functions of the child's body to unnecessary tests.

In addition, there is no guarantee that you will be able to fully care for your pet. A child of the first year of life takes a very long time, and he may simply not be enough for an animal. The risk of bites is also very high: believe me, as soon as the baby starts to crawl, he will definitely have an irresistible desire to catch the cat by the tail or to crawl into the dog's mouth with his fingers.

Keep in mind that animals can carry various infections. Especially dangerous from this point of view are rodents (hamsters, rats, mice and chinchillas, which are very popular now) and reptiles (turtles, lizards, snakes). In their body, the bacterium salmonella can peacefully live, which, when it enters the intestines of a child, causes salmonellosis. By the way, for the same reason, it is not worth encouraging contacts between a child and poultry. Soft and fluffy chickens, ducklings, goslings, which will be full in the spring at the bird markets or at the grandmother's in the village, can also be carriers of salmonellosis.

Give or leave?

What if you are preparing for the appearance of a baby, and at the same time a beloved pet has been living in the house for a long time? Many women at the stage of pregnancy think about giving the animal to relatives. Cats are especially persecuted due to the fact that they can be carriers of toxoplasmosis. In what cases they really pose a danger to a pregnant woman, we wrote in detail here

Evgeny Komarovsky is sure that pregnancy and the birth of a baby are not at all a reason to get rid of a pet. However, it is worth making an effort to minimize the risks of contact between the child and the animal. First of all, the animal needs to be vaccinated. Moreover, not only the obligatory vaccines (for example, against rabies), but also those that the owners usually do at will (for example, against leptospirosis). Consult the vet clinic which of the "animal" infections can be dangerous to humans, and give your pet all possible vaccinations.

When the baby is born, do not let the cat or dog lick him. No matter how kind the animal is, and no matter how quivering it looks, there is a mass of harmful bacteria that, when they enter a child's body, will go into rapid growth and provoke some kind of infectious disease. It is also worth teaching yourself (and subsequently the child) to wash your hands thoroughly after any contact with the pet, its feeder or toilet.

And the most important rule: do not leave your child alone with a pet. Yes, there are many stories in the world about babysitting dogs and cats who purr to lull babies. However, once a year a stick shoots: animals are unpredictable. Even the kindest dog bares its teeth if someone persistently tries to gouge out his eyes. So be sure to provide a cage, aviary or room for your pet where it can be isolated from the child while you are busy with something. As a minimum, it will save your nerves, and as a maximum, it will allow the child to avoid unwanted injuries.

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