Reasons Why You Shouldn't Sleep With Your Pets

It's been estimated that 79 percent of pet owners sleep with their furry friends, but it's generally not a good idea. First, animals can spread parasites to humans. It's very important for them to be vaccinated and dewormed, otherwise they can transmit diseases to their owners.

The CDC wrote in a 2011 report, "Although uncommon with healthy pets, the risk of transmission of zoonotic agents by close contact between pets and their owners through bed sharing, kissing or licking is real and has been documented for life-threatening infections such as plague."

Second, if you have allergies sleeping with Fido may not be a good idea. They spend a lot of time outside and may carry allergens back into the house and into the bed through their fur and paws.
Another problem is that puppies who are more prone to aggression may fully develop these behaviors when allowed to sleep with humans, reports Pet MD. A dog may see the bed as his territory and snap at anyone (including a new partner), who tries to enter his territory.

Pets can also be disruptive to a person's sleep. Like humans, animals have dreams and move around while dreaming, which may prevent you from getting a good night's sleep.
Finally, if your pet isn't completely housebroken, he or she may end up soiling the bed, which can damage your mattress. And the smell isn't that great either.

Despite the drawbacks of sleeping with a pet, new research from the Mayo Clinic shows that some people benefit from sharing their bed with their animals.
Sleep specialist Dr. Lois Krahn of the Mayo Clinic Arizona, explained: "If having a pet nearby helps them feel relaxed and gives them a sense of security, which permits them to fall asleep with less difficulty then I think that's something that does deserve attention."

However, several things need to be taken into consideration. A person needs to know how well they sleep and how well the pet sleeps. The size of the pet, the size of the bed, and the number of pets (who must be clean and free of fleas) also matters.