PETS BOOST CHILDREAN'S HEALTH

Children who have pet animals at home have stronger immune systems and are less likely to take days off school sick.

This exposure boosted their immune systems in the medium term and meant these children attended school more often, on average, than children who did not have pets.

The benefits were most pronounced in children aged between five and eight years.

Antibody levels among pet owning children were significantly more stable, indicating that they had robust immune systems.

Pet owning children were found to have an extra nine days at school during over the course of the year.