Is sleeping with your pet safe? If you have a pet that loves a snuggle, you may find yourself wondering this. We asked our in-house vets about this to find out how safe sharing a bed with your pet actually is.
You may not be surprised to hear that vets actually don't recommend sleeping with your pet as it could be potentially problematic for both of you.
One of the biggest issues could be with owners who have asthma or other respiratory issues. The increased pet dander in your bed can exacerbate this, particularly in those who are allergic to cats or allergic to dogs.
Another reason to keep your furry friend in one of the best cat bed or best dog bed – and out of your own – is that you run the risk of your pet being injured, either being accidentally knocked off the bed or squashed.
Vet, Dr Rebecca MacMillan says, "We would never advise sleeping young animals on your bed for this reason. I have personally seen puppies that have had a fall like this and sustained a broken limb."
In this feature, we will dive deeper into the potential risks of sleeping with your pet and share some tips to sleep safely if you do decide to go against the vet advice.
Dangers of sleeping with your pet
1. Pet safety
Should you let a cap sleep in your bed? While there is no hard and fast rule that says you shouldn't, it is generally not recommended by vets especially if you have a kitten. This is because you could easily roll on top of the kitten or cat and there is a high chance of limb fractures.
The same goes for dogs, puppies, and other small pets – you may accidentally bump off of the bed or roll on top of them.
2. Cleanliness
Another thing to consider is how clean your pet actually is.
Dr. MacMillan says, "Pets will happily lick their bottoms and genitals or accidentally express their anal glands on your bed. Plus, they will track in dirt and germs on their paws and coats from outside too.
"There is a risk of bringing diseases like leptospirosis and salmonella into your bed, which could be especially problematic for immunocompromised owners."
In addition to this, while most pet parents will use one of the best flea treatments for dogs or one of the best flea treatments for cats, you still run the risk of parasites coming into your bed. Dr. MacMillan notes that fleas are the most common parasites that can infest your bedroom, and that is certainly not the furry guest you want to share your sleep space with. Both fleas and ticks can roll off your pet and then lay eggs in your bed.
"Small wriggling tapeworm segments work their way out of your cat or dog’s anus, leaving egg packets in your bed. While all of this might sound dramatic, it can and does happen," says Dr. MacMillan.
2. Pet owner health
Another important thing to consider is the pet owner's health. This is especially important for owners with respiratory conditions, allergies, or compromised immune systems.
Dr. MacMillan adds, "Even healthy individuals with constant and continuous exposure could run into problems. With increased organic debris from our pets, we can also see an increase in the house dust mites that feed off this. Some owners can be very susceptible and react to this too."
In addition to potential health issues, sharing a sleep space with your pet can lead to disrupted sleep patterns for owners, leaving them tired, irritable, and with a lack of energy. If you have a high-energy cat breed or a high-energy dog breed, you definitely need as much rest as possible to keep up with them.
How to make sleeping with your pet safer
There are many pet parents who do decide to sleep with their pets. If this is you, be sure to practice these tips for safer sleeping.
1. Train your pet to lie in a certain area
With positive reinforcement, try to get your pet used to sleeping in a certain section of the bed. This will lower the risk of you accidentally rolling on or pushing your pet off the bed.
2. Ensure pets are up to date with a vet-approved anti-parasite treatment
Check out our guides to the best flea treatments for dogs or one of the best flea treatments for cats – these will help to keep creepy crawlies out of your bed.
3. Keep a HEPA air filter in your room
An air filter (like this one on Amazon) purifies the air in the room and keeps pet dander and hair out of the air. Dr. MacMillan says "While asthma and allergy sufferers are most at risk, it's not healthy for any owner to be continually exposed to high levels of fur and dander."
4. No sleeping with immunocompromised family members
Lastly, Dr. MacMillan advises that pets should not sleep with any immunocompromised family members. These will include children, the elderly, pregnant or sick people.
"They will be more at risk of contracting infectious illnesses especially if they are co-sleeping with their pets. Babies and very small children are also at risk from suffocation or injury," she adds.
No longer want to sleep with your dog? Here’s how to get a dog to sleep in a different room
Rebecca is a veterinary surgeon who graduated in 2009 from the Royal Veterinary College in London. She has a wealth of experience in first opinion small animal practice, having done a mixture of day-to-day routine work, on-call emergency duties and managerial roles over the years. Rebecca enjoys medicine in particular and she is proud to have recently achieved a BSAVA postgraduate certificate in small animal medicine (with commendation).
