For many people, pets are like family members. Every year their number grows, and with it the owners' love for their furry friends.
People love their pets so much that they are glad to let them into their bed. More than half of the people I know sleep with a dog or cat at night, or even with several pets at the same time.
Of course, sleeping with a pet has positive aspects, because our four-legged friends are a boundless source of warmth, love and tenderness.
However, sleeping with animals can also greatly harm a person. Let's take a closer look at the potential dangers of sleeping with a pet:
1. Disturbance of sleep and nocturnal biorhythms
According to statistics, 63% of dog and cat owners have restless sleep. One in three pet owners wake up at least once during the night. This is due to differences in sleep cycles.
Cats tend to be nocturnal animals, and usually around 3 a.m. they can become very active, wanting to play or run around the house for their favorite toy.
Dogs are much more reliable in this regard, as they tend to sleep soundly at night. However, they may snore, howl, bark, squeal, twitch, get up from time to time, change position and posture, step on your feet and wake you up. You may not even notice it, but these micro-awakenings, pulling you out of a sound sleep, cause the release of the stress hormone cortisol, which makes your sleep even more fragmented and shallow. The result is disrupted daily routines, fatigue and headaches.
2. Germs, parasites and allergies
If you already suffer from asthma or allergies, it's best to keep pets out of your bed. Pets can bring various street allergens, primarily plant pollen, into the bed on their fur, and their own hair and dander, which are often allergens, will be abundant on the bedding.
Pets can also bring harmful bacteria, viruses and parasites into the home, putting the families they live with at risk of zoonotic diseases. These diseases are infections transmitted to humans from animals such as: toxoplasmosis, staphylococcus, fungi, etc.
People who are more prone to infections, immunocompromised patients and those who have recently received wounds are better off not sleeping with pets.
It is important to remember that if a pet licks your face, it increases the risk of various diseases.
3. Aggression
Some dogs, if accidentally disturbed in their sleep, reflexively show aggression, may even bite their favorite owner. If a dog is seen to be prone to this behavior, it's best to keep him out of bed, especially with children.
Cats, too, can behave aggressively toward people claiming "their" territory.
This behavior can be remedied by long term reeducation and often causes a lot of trouble for owners.
4. Disturbed discipline
A pet that is allowed everything, even sleeping on the bed, will very quickly begin to feel bossy. Animals accustomed to this are difficult to train. And perhaps soon you will be sleeping on your pet's mat or bed:) That's why it's important to set boundaries and rules of behavior from the beginning.
5. Privacy and personal space
Sleeping with pets can affect personal life and personal space, which can cause stress and affect interpersonal relationships.
Nevertheless, sleeping with a pet is an important ritual for many people. It should not be avoided if both pet and owner are healthy. Good health of a pet is the absence of fleas, ticks, other parasites, diseases, timely vaccinations and regular veterinary examinations. And in humans, good health is mainly defined by the absence of immunosuppression.
In addition, if your pet is characterized by a calm temper, does not interfere with your sleep, and most importantly, you are ready to give him evening bathing procedures – why not sleep together. By the way, many pet owners on the contrary say that the embrace of a four-legged friend makes them fall asleep much faster.
After all, sleeping with your pet is a personal decision that you have to assume.