People naturally like to have their dog as close to them as possible, even while sleeping. I will try to explain why it’s better not to let your dog sleep in bed.
This is important information, but not if you think your dog should be allowed on the bed at every possible moment of its life.
Having a pet can be great for your health. That wagging tail when you walk through the door not only makes you feel good, it also likely encourages you to live more healthily. Regardless of the weather, you know you have to go for two walks a day. Maybe you won’t stay out too late with your friends at the bar because you know you have to go home to let your dog out.
Having a pet has been associated with lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol levels, lower triglyceride levels, and reduced feelings of loneliness.
Although these traits are heartwarming, we have to draw the line somewhere. No matter how much you love your loyal four-legged friend, it is a bad idea to let your dog sleep in bed. Disclaimer: I’m not a woman who sleeps in bed with her dog. People belong in beds, animals on the floor. You won’t convince me otherwise, especially not after researching for this article!
I may, however, be the only one with that attitude. In Belgium more than 20 percent of households own a dog, and of those dog owners perhaps 20 percent let their pets sleep in their bed with them. Of the 250 diseases that have been transmitted from animals to humans, 100 of those diseases came from pets. That means your pets can carry nasty illnesses, such as parasites and staph infections.
Can a puppy sleep in bed?
If you plan to allow the adult dog in bed as well, then yes; otherwise no.
A puppy doesn’t yet have the desire to lie in bed or play. If you teach it to, it will enjoy lying in bed for the rest of its life.
Not a big deal, you might think? Well, if you have to unteach it afterwards, for whatever reason.
Puppies don’t stay small, and they will gradually take up more space in bed. Think of a Siberian husky puppy of 4-5 kg, which as an adult can weigh 25-30 kg.
Try explaining to your dog that it is no longer allowed because it has grown too big.
Unteaching this without the dog understanding why tends toward dog abuse. So be consistent with the training from the start.
Why do we sleep with our pets?
Once you’ve made space in your bed for your furry friend, it can be difficult for both of you to break the cycle. “Dogs add companionship if you’re single or in a bad relationship,” Susan Nelson, DVM, an associate clinical professor at the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine, told Doctor Ask.
“They provide extra warmth on a cold night. They evoke a sense of security, especially for children who are afraid of the dark. They give an added sense of safety against potential intruders. It can also create a stronger bond between you and your dog. Let’s be honest: it’s hard to beat a warm, furry bundle of unconditional love.”
If, however, you decide to let your pet cuddle while your husband is out of town, it’s normal for that relationship to continue.
And listen, ladies, because we’re the culprits. Studies show that 25 percent of women report sleeping with a pet, while only 16 percent of men do.
You could catch the bubonic plague
Yes, you read that right. The bubonic plague isn’t just for European history books. Cats and dogs can still carry the fleas that spread this disease, and if your cat or dog sleeps in your bed, you’re at risk. If our pets share our beds, those fleas can jump from their fur onto our sheets.
From 1977 to 1998 there were 23 documented cases of human bubonic plague that could be traced to the household cat! Unfortunately, five of these plague cases were fatal. Make sure your pet visits the vet regularly to prevent these diseases in the first place!
Say hello to parasites
You are probably aware of your pet’s health. You schedule those vet appointments, order its medication, etc. You know how ill your dog can get from a parasite such as hookworm or roundworm, so as the great pet owner that you are, you should treat this. But have you done the same for yourself?
If your dog is already infected with a parasite like roundworm, the parasite’s eggs are on its coat. If your dog sleeps in your bed and snuggles up next to you, those eggs can end up in your sheets and lodge in your skin.
You could be scratched
Cat-scratch disease is a serious illness that usually occurs if you are scratched (see?) by a flea-infested cat. This disease can make you quite ill and can affect your liver, spleen and kidneys.
And it doesn’t matter if your cat doesn’t actually scratch you. Simply sleeping next to your cat or being licked can be enough to transmit the disease. Again, make sure your cat is healthy in the first place. Then let her sleep in her own bed or space in the house.
You are at risk of meningitis
You’ve probably heard of meningitis outbreaks on college campuses where everyone lives in such close quarters. It turns out your pet can carry the infection, and the closer it gets to you, the greater the risk you face. So if your dog sleeps in the bed, you’re at high risk.
In 1985, a 60-year-old woman in the United Kingdom was diagnosed with meningitis after admitting that she regularly kissed her dog on the mouth. In another meningitis case, a newborn baby was diagnosed after the family cat used the baby’s pacifier as a toy. Ew!
If you sleep in bed with your pets, it’s not only more likely that they’ll lick you. Simply being that close every night can make you ill.
Your pet can transmit staph infections
Serious staph infections like MRSA can be transmitted from animals to people. MRSA is a bacterium that is resistant to many antibiotics and therefore hard to treat. Dogs and cats can carry this bacterium in their mouths and saliva. Now you might want to sit down before I tell you the next part. And I hope you haven’t eaten.
A 51-year-old woman in Japan was diagnosed with a staph infection that started in her ear. Doctors determined that her dog had infected her when she let it lick her stitches from a recent ear operation. No, just no.
Be careful if you have allergies
If you suffer from environmental allergies, make sure your pet doesn’t sleep in your room, let alone in your bed. You might not only react to your pet’s dander and fur, but your dog rolls around all day in who knows what. Your dog is constantly exposed to allergens like pollen and dust.
‘You may not be allergic to your dog, but all dogs carry allergens,’ editor Amy Tokic told The Honest Kitchen. ‘They hitch a ride in his coat or on his paws, follow him into your bed and make your allergies act up. Stuffy noses and sneezing don’t make for a good night’s sleep.’
Chocolate on your pillow
I know what you’re going to say. Your dog is special; she understands you. You two can communicate without a word, and she’s basically a genius. But here’s the thing: that genius has just left chocolate on your pillow. Oh, and it’s not chocolate.
Dogs are natural scavengers and are not afraid to play with or eat their own poop. Your pet probably has some on her paws or coat right now, so if she sleeps in your bed, guess where it goes … yes, onto your sheets, and then onto you. While this thought is of course unsettling, it can also make you sick.
Even more dangerous for your children
After reading the risks, I bet you’re at least considering kicking your dog out of your bedroom. If you’re not quite ready to ditch your cuddle buddy yet, at least make sure your pet doesn’t cozy up in your baby’s or child’s room.
If you let your dog sleep in bed, especially in your child’s bed, this can lead to possessive or aggressive behavior. Scientists have found that a dog that sleeps in the child’s room is a risk factor for biting. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), from 1989 to 1994 there were 109 fatal dog bites, and 11 of those involved a sleeping baby. Put simply: keep the children’s rooms off-limits.
And watch out for that aggressive behavior in your room, too. If your dog starts growling at your husband when he tries to get into bed with you, it’s time to make the bed a people-only zone. ‘It may be because he thinks he’s protecting you in this vulnerable position’, Amy Tokic wrote in an article for The Honest Kitchen. ‘The bed can become the dog’s territory, and anyone he sees as unwanted is not welcome in his domain.’
There is one benefit to having your dog in bed
Despite all the negative consequences of sleeping with your pets, I worked hard to find out if there were any benefits. It turns out that there may actually be one health benefit to sleeping with your pet: a better night’s sleep.
According to a study by researchers at the Mayo Clinic, many pet owners believe their pets do not affect—or even improve—their restful sleep. In their survey of pet owners, 41 percent said their pet can help them sleep better.
“Some people find that sleeping with their animal really gives them a cozy feeling. One woman said that her two small dogs warmed her bed a little. Another person found that her cat touching her at night was comforting and soothing,” Dr. Lois Krahn, a sleep medicine specialist at the Mayo Clinic Center for Sleep Medicine in Arizona (and one of the paper’s authors), told Today.
However, that reassuring feeling is not enough to negate all the downsides. “I’m not sure there’s a hard rule for pets [in bed],” Dr. Krahn explained. “My community of colleagues does think it’s always a risk.”
Goodbye, cuddle buddy
Although these diseases, such as the bubonic plague, are rare, it’s still something to think about. It is much more likely that your pet will contract an animal disease through licking or kissing the mouth, but if you sleep next to each other, you still run a risk. Children, babies, and anyone with a compromised immune system should never share their bed with pets, because it’s simply too dangerous.
Can’t resist that furry bedmate? Go back and read this article again first. Still not convinced?
Know that the transmission of diseases goes both ways. It is just as likely that you will infect your dog as the other way around. “It’s not only animals infecting people; it appears that people can also infect animals,” Dr. Peter Rabinowitz of the Yale School of Medicine and coauthor of the handbook Human-Animal Medicine: Clinical Approaches to Zoonoses, Toxicants and Other Shared Health Risks told HealthDay. ‘It’s a two-way street.’
You’re still going to sleep in bed with your dog, aren’t you?
I get it, your pet is part of the family and these risks are rare. If you choose to continue sharing your bed, make sure you do so as safely as possible. Make sure your pet sees the vet regularly and stays up to date with necessary medications. Bathe her regularly and watch for signs of possessive or aggressive behavior.
Steve Brooks, a certified dog trainer and founder of SteveBrooksK9U in Los Angeles, has some simple behavioral rules for sharing your bed. “Your dog should be able to stay on the floor for at least 10 minutes while you are in bed, and then you should be able to invite your dog up on your terms,” Brooks told Doctor’s Ask.
“Your dog should lie calmly at the foot or side of your bed without constantly pawing. The bed is not a place to chew on bones or to play; it is a place for restful sleep. I don’t want to be standing on the edge of the bed in the middle of the night \u200b\u200bor be pushed off the bed by your dog. Then it becomes the dog’s bed, not yours.”