By Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY
Sleeping alongside your pets can make you sick.
It’s rare, but it happens. That’s why good hygiene means keeping Fluffy and Spot next to the bed, not on it, two experts in animal-human disease transmission say in a forthcoming paper.
More than 60% of American households have a pet, and depending on the survey, 14% to 62% let their dogs and cats sleep with them. That can be dangerous, says Bruno Chomel, a professor at the University of California-Davis school of veterinary medicine.
“There are private places in the household, and I think our pets should not go beyond next to the bed,” Chomel says. “Having a stuffed animal in your bed is fine, not a real one.”
Chomel and co-author Ben Sun, chief veterinarian with the California Department of Public Health, did an extensive search of medical journals and turned up a hair-raising list of possible pathogens.
There’s plague (yes, bubonic plague, i.e. the Black Death); chagas disease, which can cause life-threatening heart and digestive system disorders; and cat-scratch disease, which can also come from being licked by infected cats.
Though many people love getting licked or planting a kiss on a pet, it may not be such a good idea, the authors say.
The researchers found several cases of various infections transmitted this way.
“The risk is rare, but when it occurs it can be very nasty, and especially in immuno-compromised people and the very young,” says Chomel, who specializes in zoonoses, the study of disease transmission between animals and humans.
Larry Kornegay, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association, called the article “pretty balanced.” These cases are “uncommon if not rare,” but even so, pet owners should use common sense to reduce risks.
Washing hands after playing with pets and regular veterinary wellness visits are key, says Kornegay, who practices in Houston.
In general, he says, “the benefits of having a pet, whether or not you sleep with it, far outweigh the negatives, which are quite uncommon.”
The paper, in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases, won’t be out for a week, but Chomel says his e-mail box is already filling up with people who disagree with it.
“They tell me they’ve slept with their pets for years and they never got sick,” he says.
i will still let mine sleep with me, its worth the risk !!!!
I totally agree with you! I have had my dog and cat sleeping with me since I was 10. That was 18 years ago. And I am not stopping because of some article.
Not any different then sleeping with someone….Mine Animals will always be in my bed…
Why don’t we just bubble wrap ourselves, come on! (This being said, I don’t let my pups sleep in the bed because they wake me up at night and sneak off to eat underware from my laundry basket.)
My dogs have always slept in my bed they are 14yrs and 11yrs I haven’t gotten sick yet.
My dogs always sleep with me and my husband and also give us kisses for years ! We have never gotten sick yet! I’m not doing anything different, just because someone thinks now it’s bad for you ! What a bunch of crap!!!!
Wont be changing my sleeping arrangements with my gorgeous American Staffy anytime soon….and nothing beats a big wet mushy kiss from your beloved, faithful, loyal friend, ever!
I can see this as being legit advice. I personally love dogs so much that I am willing to risk it. For me it is worth the risk. It may be that I am not in the “immuno-compromised” group (parents should keep their kids in mind).
I’ve been sleeping with my little furry ones for over 17 years and have never gotten sick from them. I definitely won’t be changing my sleeping habits just because of some study…..good grief already!
Well, over the past 1/2 century a plethora of dogs and cats have slept in my bed with me (not always at my bequest) and I’ve never been sick as a result. I do not have a compromised immune system. I prefer the ‘fids’ sleep on the bed (pet) beside mine but when they are cold or ill or just want to cuddle I do not have any issue with them coming, on my request, into my bed. Anyways, I live in a major city … think the exhaust from diesel trucks, buses, cars etc are far worse for my health
This story is total rubbish. Why not live like the boy in the friggin’ bubble, then you’re really be safe!!
i do not care what they say or any one else my dog has been slepping with me and my hubby for the last 3 years and all the dogs we get will ido not care what they or any one says she will stay with us in the bed when it is cold out do u make u kids sleep on the floor no u make them get in bed that is what is to us our kid
…but letting a baby sleep on the floor is allright (one of the many things I find wrong with this story).
I have always had pets, and had them sleep in bed with me, and i have not gotten sick, and plus i feel safe with them there beside me knowing they are watching over me and the house hold.
Studies have shown that children who grow up with pets have a better immune system because they build immunity to many of the antigens from the pets. That said, you can find studies out there that support any idea, no matter how weird it is. People will and always have slept with animals. Get real!
So true. I like your matter-of-fact take on this! And regarding kids who have better immune systems, kind of reminds me of the current antibacterial soap hysteria.
well that’s mean that i should be dead and harm by know cuz i have been sleeping with furry doggies since i can remember and that’s around 28 so … LMAO! hahahaha sorry but i have to laugh at this
Keep your dogs, cats or whatever clean, as well as keeping your bed clean and there won’t be any problems. My husband and I have slept with at least two chihuahuas for the past 27 years with no problems. So again, I guess what they say about opinions is true. It is my opinion that the benefits of having a pet in your bed far outweighs the bad things “they” say can occur.
Absolutely REDICULOUS I have allowed my animals on my bed,and couch for over 50 Years.I DO have an autoimmune disease called Vasculitis ,and have NEVER gotten sick from them! I have had German Shepherds for 35 yrs,currently have 4, but have had as many as 17 when I was in rescue.I also have 8 cats.two parrots and a pigeon and 3 horses.I’d be blaming these illness on something other then our pets!!
MY DOGS ARE LIKE MY BABIES ! WE HAVE SLEPT WITH OUR DOGS (CHIHUAHUAS ) SINCE WE GOT THEM & HAVE NEVER GOTTEN SICK FROM IT ! OUR FIRST ONE WAS 16 YRS OLD WHEN SHE DIED & WE HAVE A 3 YR OLD NOW ! THE THING THAT WOULD MAKE ME SICK IS WORRYING THAT THEY WOULD BE COLD & UNCOMFORTABLE ANYWHERE ELSE. I HAVE SLEPT ON THE BATHROOM FLOOR WITH A SICK ONE WHO WAS THROWING UP TO WATCH HER & KEEP HER FROM BEING SICK ALONE & TO KEEP HER CLEANED UP. WORTH EVERY MINUTE OF IT !
Did any one even read this article it says as plain as day it is RARE for any of this to happen, but it has happened so for all of the above to say its rubbish, crap, a load of bull etc. is not exactly fair. And yes I have let my pets sleep with me without contracting any kind of illness but that doesn’t make this article fake, wrong, or bull shhhhhh thanks for posting.
gotta say it was very reassuring to see everyone not start freaking out and shun their pets!! If this (the posts)are any indication of how MANY people sleep w/their animals and DON’T get sick then YIPEE! I think these guys are alarmists and DANGEROUS. I might as well tell everyone not to sit on the toilet because rats have been known to climb up and bite your butt! The odds are a million to one, but hey I better write a book about it! Just wrong! Shame on you! keep it up people the pets have saved WAY more lives than given anyone the plague!!
my dog and my raccoon sleep in my bed along with my husband they all get baths on a regular basis and will continue to do so
my dog and my raccoon sleep in my bed along with my husband they all get baths on a regular basis and will continue to do so
Bubonic plague was carried by flea infested rats. Clean, pampered pets should not be put into the same classification. Basic hygiene should take care of any issues. Lack of exposure to help build up immunities will cause more problems when it comes to allergies.Too much over use of anti bacterial soap doesn’t allow your body to build immunities. Balance and moderation should be a common sense answer.
Typical media overkill
Whoops. Pulled the trigger on that comment way too fast. Wanted to chime in about how this story, like so many others, are simply meant to titillate. There’s so little chance of disease transmission that this is almost ridiculous. Even the original CDC report (which these news articles are based on) gave as evidence the case of a woman who fed her dog by transferring food from her mouth to her dog’s. Hardly typical human-dog contact! We did a post on this over at PetsAdviser (with an “e” on “Adviser) titled: How the Media Exaggerated ‘Sleeping with Pets’ Disease.
I am gone sleep with my 3 dogs westies! until the day i die ! end of story
My dog still will sleep on the bed. I can die just walking outside my house(which would be unlikely too) Life is a chance everyday, My dog is family and I will take my chances.
For sure.!!! My dog sleeps with me. Since my husband’s death, he is my closest companion. I’ve never been sick as a result; as a matter of fact, he has kept me going many times. Good grief. Get a grip, people.
What a waste of time to even write such a story, really!
Lack of anything else to write about I guess!