“Should I let my dog sleep with me?” is a hot topic for good reason. Are the health risks worth it?
Key takeaways:
Many people love to sleep with their dogs, but it carries some health risks.
Dogs can carry all manner of dirt, bacteria, parasites, and fungi into the bed, even if they haven’t been outdoors.
Dogs are also polyphasic sleepers, which makes it harder for you to get an uninterrupted night.
Snuggling down for a little rest with your pup is one of the best feelings in the world. That’s why so many pup parents love to let their dogs sleep with them when they go to bed at night. Almost half of American pup parents sleep with their fur family, and “Should I let my dog sleep with me?” is often a heated debate.
Adorableness aside, our dogs can bring a lot of dirt, bacteria, fungi, microbes, fleas, ticks, chiggers, and other parasites into your bed. Here’s what you should know about the dangers of sleeping with your dog.
Allergies
Some people are allergic to their dogs. It sounds crazy, but medications can usually keep reactions to the bare minimum. That’s a lot harder to do when you’re sleeping in the same bed, however. Other allergies are exacerbated with a pup in the bed also. Pet dander and allergens such as pollen, mold, dust mites, and insect droppings are deposited in the bed along with your pup. If you have asthma or a respiratory illness, sleeping with your pup can make symptoms worse.
Disease and infection
There are several diseases you can catch from close proximity to your pup. Rabies is the most well-known dog disease that can be transmitted to people, but it is a rare occurrence with only one to three cases per year. Other diseases you can catch from sleeping with your dog include:
Toxoplasmosis – This disease starts with the gondii parasite, which is found in cat feces, something many dogs love to eat.
Ringworm – This highly contagious fungal infection can be transmitted on blankets, pillows, clothing, and touch.
Salmonella – This disease starts from bacteria that reside in a dog’s digestive tract. Humans can contract it by touching the infected dog or any of its bedding, toys, or clothing.
Campylobacter Infection – This infection is caused by the campylobacter bacteria that live in a dog’s digestive tract. Humans can contract it from touching an infected dog or any of its belongings.
You run the risk of catching these from your pup at any time, but prolonged contact while sleeping can increase the risk. If you’re worried, this might be your answer to “should I let my dog sleep with me?”
Parasites
Several parasites plague dogs in their lifetime, some of which can also affect humans. Fleas, ticks, and chiggers are the most common and easily recognized, but there are many more – and some can be deadly. Giardia is a parasite that most people haven’t heard of but is common in dogs. It can be transferred to humans by touch and causes diarrhea, vomiting, and cramps. Parasitic worms like roundworms, tapeworms, and heartworms can be deadly for you and your pup. They are easily transferred through saliva and waste.
Interrupted sleep
Sleeping with your pup can be comforting, at least for a few hours. Humans are diurnal. That means we get most of our sleep at night. Dogs (and some people) are polyphasic sleepers, which means they get their sleep in several bouts of about 45 minutes. That makes it almost impossible for you to sleep through the night uninterrupted.
Another problem that can keep you awake is the position your pup sleeps in. Dogs will often sleep with their bums facing you. It’s an ingrained tactic that helps them protect you both by keeping an eye on the whole room as you snooze.
Relationship issues
Spending private time with the person you love is key to keeping the romantic fires burning. Having a pup in the room during intimate moments can extinguish those fires pretty quickly. Let’s face it. Some people just don’t like animals in their beds, even if they adore them! If the relationship is important to you, it might be time to buy your pup a special comfy spot on the floor.
Fecal matter
There’s no denying it. Dogs regularly step in, play in, or even eat feces! They track it into your house and bedroom with every step they take. Unless you bathe your dog every night before bed, there’s a real good chance you’re sleeping with poopy crumbles.
It becomes a habit
It’s difficult to break the habit once you’ve allowed your pup to get used to sleeping with you. You’ll have a crying pup on your hands every night for a long while. Your best course of action is to get your pup used to her own bed right from the start.
There are always a few exceptions and special circ*mstances and, when those times come, you’ll be glad if you’ve kept a regular grooming schedule. Regular basic hygiene and grooming care takes a lot of the worry out of what your pup might leave behind under your covers.
Get your favorite friend squeaky clean for bedtime
Scenthound can help keep your entire fur family fresh and clean for sleepovers and playdates. Our convenient, affordable solution for routine dog care and basic grooming is revolutionizing the way pet parents keep their fur family clean and healthy.
Check out your closest Scenthound location to see what we can do for your pup today.
