Sleeping in bed with your pet: cozy or unhealthy?
For many pet owners, there is nothing cozier than crawling under the covers at night with their four-legged friend. It provides a sense of security and closeness, but is it actually healthy to share your bed with your pet?
Scary critters
As much as you love your pet, there are a number of reasons why it’s better not to sleep in bed together. First, it is not hygienic: your dog or cat can carry all kinds of pests such as fleas, parasites, ticks, fur mites or lice. These can then get into your bed and transfer to you, with all the consequences. “Think of Lyme disease transmitted by ticks,” veterinarian Paul Overgaauw previously told Radio Veronica.
“Dogs and cats can carry infections that don’t affect themselves, but pose a risk to humans. Think of a skin fungal infection. Dogs and cats don’t suffer from that, but humans really do get skin symptoms from it,” Overgaauw said. Although this really isn’t always the case, Overgaauw believes it is important for pet owners to be aware of this.
Night’s rest
In addition to the health risks of pests, sleeping with a pet in your bed also affects your sleep. You wake up more often and are very likely to sleep less deeply when sleeping with your pet. A study by Lincoln Memorial University found that people who let a dog or cat sleep in bed with them were more likely to have sleeping problems. So as cute as they are, it really is better to let your faithful four-legged friend sleep in its own basket!
Source: Dingen voor Vrouwen, Bedrock | Image: Pexels
