Many dogs and cats do not sleep only in their own beds or on the floor. They also share their owners' beds.
A U.S. survey from 2022, cited by The New York Times according to News55, found that nearly one in two adults sleeps with a pet.
It can disrupt your sleep
Your sleep may be affected when an animal is in your bed.
A 2017 study published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings found that dog owners slept less efficiently when their dog slept in the bed than when it slept elsewhere in the room.
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However, many people do not notice that their sleep is being disrupted. As a result, it can be difficult to tell whether daytime fatigue is caused by a pet or something else.
The risk is small
Pets can bring ticks, fleas, and parasites into the bed.
In rare cases, bacteria can also be be transmitted to humans, especially if a person has open wounds or a weakened immune system.
According to experts cited by The New York Times, the risk of becoming seriously ill is generally low for healthy people.
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The most important thing is to protect your pet against fleas and ticks and to ensure it receives regular deworming treatment.
The key message is not that pets should be banned from the bed. If you sleep well and are in good health, there is usually no reason for concern.
If you are not sleeping well, you could try having your pet sleep somewhere else for a few nights.
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