Sleeping with pets isn't unusual; in fact, a survey by the American Pet Products Association states that 45% of dogs sleep with their owner's bed, and 62% of cats sleep with their owners.
But there are many risks to sleeping with your pet. Below are some of those:
Lower quality of sleep
Recent studies have shown that owners sharing a bed with their pets have found to have more significant sleep disturbances than people who do not sleep with their pets. Below are some ways animals can reduce your quality of sleep.
Your pets often sleep on you. If you move, they'll let you know which in turn disturbs your sleep quality. Also, when they sleep on you, your core temperature increases. Having a warm body at night prevents quality sleep.
You'll worry about rolling over them. This is true for smaller animals, and you'll be more conscious when you sleep, thus reducing sleep quality.
Your pets might bite you when they sleep, especially when they have a nightmare.
You'll risk catching diseases from pets
One of the biggest concerns pet parents have when sleeping with their dogs or cats is catching diseases. Below are some diseases you may be at risk:
Bubonic plague. Cats and dogs carry fleas that contain the disease. If you're sleeping next to them, it puts you at a higher risk of catching that disease.
Cat Scratch Disease (CSD). This is a bacterial infection caused by a bite or scratch from cats with Bartonella henselae bacteria. You can also get the disease from the saliva of an infected cat.
Meningitis. In 1985, a 60-year-old woman in the UK was diagnosed with meningitis because she was regularly kissing her dog in the mouth. Another case of meningitis occurred in cats when the family cat used the baby's pacifier as a toy.
Staph infections. Staph infections like MRSA can be transferred from animals to humans. MRSA is a bacteria resistant to antibiotics making it challenging to treat. Dogs and cats carry this type of bacteria in their saliva.
Ticks, Mites, and Fleas
Ticks can carry many contagious diseases to people. If your dog has it, chances are ticks might already have latched onto you. Mites can cause human scabies, which is very contagious to people. And getting infested with fleas is probably the worst thing you'll experience at home.
Parasites
If your dog or cat has parasites like hookworm or roundworm, the parasites eggs can get from their coat to your skin. And those eggs can also shed off to your sheets and get into your skin.
Drools, dander, and fecal matter
It's no secret that dogs drool, and some patients wake up with wet spots on their pillows or beds. Danders and your cat's fur can be tiresome to clean, and it can even cause allergies. There are times that regardless of how trained your pet is, it can have "accidents" in bed, and when that happens, you know how a nightmare it is to clean it.
You don't have to strip your pet from comfortable sleeping just because they can no longer sleep. Because with the right pet bed, their beds can even be as comfortable as your bed that they don't need to get to your bed to experience that comfort. Orthopedic, memory foam beds are the best beds to have for your pets.