Sleeping with your pets: Cuddly or gross?
While our dog is very cute, I know where his tongue has been and there is no way he's licking my face or sleeping in my bed. However, I do let him take trips with us. In this shot, he's in his bed in the mini-van. He's a good little traveler!
I know several families where Fido is allowed in BED with the family but they may change that policy after reading a new study in the February issue of Emerging Infectious Diseases, the public health journal of the Centers for Disease Control.
While pets provide many positive health effects, Bruno Chomel, a professor of zoonoses at University of California Davism, found that sleeping with your pet increases your chances of contracting bugs and diseases ranging from worms to the bubonic plague.
In fact, of the 250 known diseases transmitted from animals to humans, more than 100 of them come from domestic animals, researchers say.
“ ‘It can happen,’ (Chomel) said. ‘It’s rare when it happens and it can be bad. It’s not told to panic people or scare people, but to be aware there are things that can happen.’ ”
“Chomel and co-author Ben Sun looked through published literature about cases in which people’s illnesses correlated with sleeping, kissing or being licked by pets.”
“Some of examples are startling:
– A man had a dog sleep under the covers with him. The dog licked his hip replacement wound and the owner got meningitis.
– A 9-year-old boy slept in bed with a flea-infested cat and got the bubonic plague in 1974 in New Mexico.
– A newborn was sickened with meningitis. The pet cat had stolen the baby’s pacifier and had been toying with it.
– A 44-year-old woman developed meningitis and admitted that she was “regularly kissing the dog’s face and feeding it by transferring food mouth to mouth.”
In a survey from the American Kennel Club, 21 percent of dog owners said they regularly slept with their dogs.”
‘In many countries, pets have become substitutes for childbearing and child care, sometimes leading to excessive pet care,’ said Chomel … ‘There are private places in the household, and pets should not go beyond next to the bed.
So how many owners are sleeping with their pets?
Well the Daily Mail reports that “among dog owners, 53 per cent considered their pet to be a member of the family, while 56 per cent of them admitted they sleep with their dog next to them.”
“Up to 62 per cent of cat owners said their pets sleep either on or in their beds.”
“And some 25 per cent of women admit to sleeping regularly with a pet, while just 16 per cent of men say they do.”
The very first night we found our little Shih Tzu, he cried and cried in the kitchen so I came down and slept next to him on the kitchen floor to comfort him. (I had bathed him as soon as we found him but I kept thinking all night I was getting fleas on me.)
Over the last seven years, he has moved up to sometimes sleeping in his bed on the floor of our bedroom but never, ever, ever in anyone’s bed. Why don’t I want my cute little doggie in my bed or the kids’ beds?
Here’s why I DON’T allow my little 15-pound dog to sleep in our bed:
1. I’ve watched my dog eat poop – sometimes his own, sometimes another dog’s. Either way it’s gross and no poop-eater is licking my face or sleeping with me. (It’s just a rule everyone should have.)
2. I’m grossed out when he drags his butt across my carpet thinking about all the gross poopy germs he’s leaving behind much less thinking that poopy butt between my sheets. (I know why he does it – when his anal gland needs attention and I always have the groomer work on that area – but it is just so gross.) If my kid dragged his poopy butt across my carpet I would be upset about that too!
3. I already have three kids climbing in and out of bed with me. I certainly don’t need to add another body to that mix.
(My husband would like to add in that our dog throws up more than any other member of our family. That’s not good either.)
I will sit on the couch and hold my dog and love him but I always wash my hands right after and won’t wear those same clothes into bed.
So what’s happening at your house? Are you or the kids sleeping with the dog or cat? Have you ever worried before about catching bugs or diseases from your pet? Will you worry now? Will this study changes your dog/cat sleeping habits?
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
120 comments Add your comment
Is it unhealthy to sleep with pets? – 89.3 KPCC
January 25th, 2011
2:46 pm
[...] you illTelegraph.co.ukCDC report: Dangers of pets sleeping in your bedWXOW.comMyFox Houston -Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) -msnbc.comall 100 news [...]
Tweets that mention Sleeping with your pets: Cuddly or gross? | Momania: A Blog for Busy Moms -- Topsy.com
January 25th, 2011
2:49 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Jim Kelley, Rhonda Rain, Natalie B, Eunice Han, Bruno Fans and others. Bruno Fans said: Sleeping with your pets: Cuddly or gross? http://bit.ly/gaTBNJ [...]
motherjanegoose
January 25th, 2011
2:50 pm
YES, our little schnauzer sleeps with us. She is up to date on shots and groomed regularly. Her haircuts cost more than mine!
DB, she was on my daughter’s lap in the back seat of the car and pressed the window button down…it opened…a scare for us!
Roswell Jeff…we also have a BBQ story…when we were first married we grilled several slabs of ribs…to last a while. We were poor and planned to enjoy them for several meals. The door bell rang. While at the door, our cocker spaniel drug the whole mess across the carpet….yuck. We also did not enjoy our ribs!
My sister’s dog got into a blueberry pie, that was cooling on the counter. He was tall enough to get his front paws up there and dove in…his whiskers quickly told the story. We used to put anything in the microwave, when we had our lab…as he could also reach the counter but we did not want him up there.
JJ. we never crated our dogs until the schnauzers. We do have a fire sticker on our front door to alert anyone. They both prefer to be in the crates and even go in there by themselves when they are tired. I never grew up with a crated dog and thought it was crazy but it is something I have learned about as an adult. Remember the animal hospital on PIB that burned down…that was sad!
Lady Strange
January 25th, 2011
2:50 pm
My dog sleeps in her crate every night and my cat sleeps where she wants. I have no choice about crating my dog, doesn’t matter how often you walk her she will still go in the house of given the chance. Five years of trying to housebreak her and she’ll do fine for a few days and then one day just regress back to going in the house, even right after you walk her (and yes she’s been to the vet and no there’s nothing wrong physically with her). She’s a rescue dog so who knows what happened to her before I got her.
motherjanegoose
January 25th, 2011
2:51 pm
comment gone….
Sleeping with your pets: Cuddly or gross? – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) | Dog Deals Online
January 25th, 2011
2:52 pm
[...] webmaster@technorati.com wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt [...]
Sleeping with your pets: Cuddly or gross? – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) | Dog Online Shoping
January 25th, 2011
3:03 pm
[...] webmaster@technorati.com wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt [...]
Current Dog Related News
January 25th, 2011
3:05 pm
[...] Sleeping with your pets: Cuddly or gross? – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
Sleeping with your pets: Cuddly or gross? – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) | Dogs Online Deals
January 25th, 2011
3:07 pm
[...] webmaster@technorati.com wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt [...]
Sleeping with your pets: Cuddly or gross? – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) | Dogs Online Shop
January 25th, 2011
3:16 pm
[...] webmaster@technorati.com wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt [...]
justmy2cents
January 25th, 2011
3:17 pm
@ Come on son- you boot them out of the way, that’s how!
Linda
January 25th, 2011
3:20 pm
I love, love my 4 cats, also do animal rescuing because I love most animals including dogs. I have let my cats sleep at the bottom of my bed but I could not rest good and they had to find another place to sleep. I make their sleeping places comfy with pet beds, throws and the like. I do not kiss my animals in their mouth. I do not allow my animals to be on the tables, countertops and the like. I could not believe the comment made above about anyone letting their animals sleep on the bed lonely or depressed. Most (including me) think of their pets as family. Your animals are glad to see you, never get you backtalk, just lots of love for their human.
.blkshepherd
January 25th, 2011
3:23 pm
To each his own. I am a the proud owner of five pure bred german shepherds which I love each one to Death. They are my children as I have none and I live alone. On occasion, I let one or two in the house. I have two 7mons old puppies(Dogs to some people as they arent too little any more lol)
My female of the two puppies ever now and then will jump up on my bed. Her mother who is about 4 and out weighs her by several lbs thinks that she should jump on my bed and lay there but for the most part she will get back on the floor.
My dogs Live OUTside in their dog houses and are kept in the back yard. Rarely ever do they spend the nite in my house and if they do..the carpet or tile on kitchen floor will surfice. The Only Living creatures allowed to sleep in my bed are Humans. And thats a rare as well.
What I see crawling around on the ground in my front and back yards in NO way do I want in my bed, in my clothes..or on my person. Bugs attach themselves to FUR. You cant always even see bugs as shepherds or fluffy dogs have thick coats even the short hair ones. Bugs HIDE. Its bad enough as soon as they come in the damn house they go the shaking..which in turn releases any Bugs on their coats on to your carpet drapes curtins and furniture.(some remain). Ticks Fleas and god knows what lives on Dogs Cats and you cant see it with the naked eye. a dog or a cat is just That. An Animal and should be treated and regarded as such. Many of these so called animal lovers wouldnt let a homeless person off the street Jump in their beds with out a good srubbing and lot of disinfect. And some probably still would let them sleep in Their beds..maybe a cot, or blanket on the floor or carpet. YET they will bring an animal who been wallowing in the graSS and sand and kiss face and let them crawl in the bed with all that Fiflth from the outside. Yes Humans are the ones thats STRANGE!
Yes I have and still kiss my dogs..a little peck on the nose.no so much the mouth. or peck on the forehead above the eyes. But transferring food out my mouth into a dog touching my tongue with his or hers..aint gonna happen. For those who want to do that..go right ahead. But I hope their mate(if they have one) refuse to kiss them on the mouth Ever again because you may not think your at risk but you could be putting your partner at risk.
A little common sense goes a long way.
Sleeping with your pets: Cuddly or gross? – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) | Best Dogs Blog
January 25th, 2011
3:24 pm
[...] webmaster@technorati.com wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt [...]
jarvis
January 25th, 2011
3:25 pm
I’m not an animal guy. I don’t wish any harm to them, but I don’t particularly care to have them around me.
So I don’t get it. I don’t let me kids go to be dirty, and I can’t fathom someone letting an animal that hasn’t bathed in a while in their sheets. It is filfthy to me.
Yuck.
Sleeping with your pets: Cuddly or gross? – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) | Dog Deals Blog
January 25th, 2011
3:28 pm
[...] webmaster@technorati.com wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt [...]
Sleeping with your pets: Cuddly or gross? – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) | Dogs Blog Online
January 25th, 2011
3:35 pm
[...] webmaster@technorati.com wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt [...]
Sleeping with your pets: Cuddly or gross? – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) | Dog Deals Today
January 25th, 2011
3:37 pm
[...] webmaster@technorati.com wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt [...]
Chess
January 25th, 2011
3:37 pm
This article is why I never eat at the office potluck. Mr Bob Dabolina
motherjanegoose
January 25th, 2011
3:39 pm
@ jarvis….MANY do let their kids got to bed and even school dirty. Some kids reek of urine and cigarette smoke. It is sad. catlady can share lots on this topic. My comment is gone but our little dog is allowed in the bed, She is groomed and bathed, her haircut costs more than mine.
Sleeping with your pets: Cuddly or gross? – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) | Dogs Today Online
January 25th, 2011
3:40 pm
[...] webmaster@technorati.com wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt [...]
motherjanegoose
January 25th, 2011
3:40 pm
@ chess…this article is why many teachers will not eat goodies brought in by kids from kitchens they do not know.
Chess
January 25th, 2011
3:46 pm
Let’s review: 250 known diseases transmitted from animals to humans, more than 100 of them come from domestic animals, researchers say.
jarvis
January 25th, 2011
3:47 pm
@momgoose….my wife is a kindergarten teacher. You couldn’t believe some of the crap she hears.
They were playing a “I like it when”….”I don’t like it when” game last year that went along with the theme of a book she had read them.
One little girl raised her hand and said: “I don’t like it when…the chicken poops in my room.”
My wife teaches in a very upper-middle class school. Weird stuff goes on everywhere.
On a much sadder note, the little girl’s older sister was taken by protective services at the end of last school year.
Kar
January 25th, 2011
3:51 pm
Speaking of sneaking food off the counter, I had a little tuxie cat once. Well, I had taken a steak out of the freezer, put it on the stove and forgot to put it back.
The next day, she kept yelling at me and poking at me to get out of bed. Being an intelligent cat, I knew that if I stood behind her, she’d take me to her problem. She led me to the kitchen, checking over her shoulder that I was behind her.
Then she proudly showed me this STEAK that she had stalked, pounced upon, fought fiercely and thrown to the ground. She them used her fearsome teeth to tear off the cellophane cover and nibble on a corner.
Now she was showing me HER KILL AS A GIFT. Keep in mind, this was a steak. I don’t think that it put up much of a fight.
Techmom
January 25th, 2011
3:51 pm
@JJ – your pork chops being eaten are another reason our dogs don’t have free roam of our house. We have one dog who is just plain old sneaky and will eat anything he can possibly get to and the other is a compulsive eater who will kill herself if given the opportunity (she’s gotten into the dog food and literally eaten 10-12 lbs of dog food twice and swelled up so big she had internal hemorrhaging) She will eat anything she possibly can and it’s not just a matter of us keeping things away from her b/c she will always find something.
We’ve always either crated our dogs or put them outside when we aren’t home (their breed is destructive and known for separation anxiety) but that being said, I work from home and we have a fenced yard so they actually aren’t crated that much except when they’re sleeping or we have guests over with young children. Their crates used to be in the bedroom next to ours at our last house (no basement). Even if you leave the doors open, they always nap in their crates; it is not a punishment for them.
We moved into a bigger house a couple of years ago and we don’t have another room on the main level so their crates had to go either go upstairs or down. The basement is a full, daylight basement with lots of room to run and is concrete floors so I don’t have to go bizerk b/c they’re tracking mud from the backyard onto my carpet or spending an extra 5 minutes every time I let them out to clean their paws. Plus I don’t get frustrated when they drink water and spill more on the floor than they drink. It’s a convenience factor for all of us.
Lastly, my guess is that if we had a fire, it’s quicker for me to get to the basement since the door is adjacent to our bedroom and then leave out the exterior door than it would be for me to retrieve them from the 2nd floor and then try to come back down stairs (I actually fear my son would be the one in trouble since his room is on the 2nd floor, opposite our room & the stairs).
Sleeping with your pets: Cuddly or gross? – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) | Best Dog Online
January 25th, 2011
3:53 pm
[...] webmaster@technorati.com wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt [...]
Is it unhealthy to sleep with pets? – 89.3 KPCC
January 25th, 2011
3:56 pm
[...] you illTelegraph.co.ukCDC report: Dangers of pets sleeping in your bedWXOW.comMyFox Houston -Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) -msnbc.comall 100 news [...]
Sleeping with your pets: Cuddly or gross? – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) | Dogs Store Online
January 25th, 2011
3:57 pm
[...] webmaster@technorati.com wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt [...]
Sleeping with your pets: Cuddly or gross? – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) | Dogs Blog Store
January 25th, 2011
4:04 pm
[...] webmaster@technorati.com wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt [...]
abc
January 25th, 2011
4:05 pm
All the folks who supposedly can’t teach their dog(s) to sleep on the floor, or on a pet bed or quilt — how do you suppose you’ll be able to teach your kids anything? Really, training a dog simple things like staying off of furniture is easy.
For the folks who have dogs with shedding or behavioral issues, you should look into adopting a retired racing greyhound. They make ideal pets: smart, low maintenance, readily bonding, and eager to please, plus, they’re beautiful.
motherjanegoose
January 25th, 2011
4:05 pm
TWG…if your dog is scooting excessively on the carpet… have you had it’s anal glands expressed? Also, if your dog throws up a lot …what is it eating? We have neither of these issues.
NO kids in our bed either…unless they were sick. They do like to come in sometimes now and hop on the bed and talk before we go to sleep. It is funny when there are 4 adults perched on our bed and the dog. This rarely happens as they are usually only home a few times each year at the same time. I love my kids but I need my space. A twenty pound dog is not too bad.
@momgoose….my wife is a kindergarten teacher. You couldn’t believe some of the crap she hears.
@ jarvis…is she in the Atlanta metro? I might like to stop in for a FREE visit with her class! I was in Cobb County today and talking to some staff members in the hall and they said, “You’d never believe some of the things we hear and see at school.” I have mentioned it on this blog but many have no idea!
HeatherEC
January 25th, 2011
4:06 pm
I have two shelties. Yes, they sleep with my hubbie and me, in our tempurpedic, king sized bed. I keep them well-groomed, up-to-date on shots and parasite prevention. Are there health risks? Sure! However, each time I touch the handle to open the ladies room door at work, I assume the same if not more risk than sleeping with my dogs.
motherjanegoose
January 25th, 2011
4:09 pm
abc…our dog knows all sorts of tricks. We simply do not need to teach her to stay on the floor. She is allowed on the sofa/bed or chair…not up anywhere in the kitchen. I have done a pretty good job with my kids thank you very much. The dog does not shed…a schnauzer…and we have her groomed.
Catherine
January 25th, 2011
4:09 pm
If you take me to the doctor and put me through the tests, I’m horribly allergic to both cats and dogs. But I’ve had cats and dogs all my life — my parents’ first “child” was a dog — and never had a violent reaction. The doctor thinks that the early exposure, beginning pretty much from the time I was conceived, means that my body’s so used to being exposed to an allergen that it adjusted. So, in practical application I’m not allergic.
I defy anyone to get my cat -not- to crawl onto the bed with me at night. She usually makes herself a little nest with the covers near my feet. So, I just use machine-washable covers and put them through the laundry every week. No big deal. Much easier than dealing with a human companion, let me tell you!
motherjanegoose
January 25th, 2011
4:10 pm
@ HeatherEC ..I saw a Mom in the restroom at Target with her 4 year old. You could hear what was going on in the potty. NOPE no hand washing on the way out….eeeew!
Sleeping with your pets: Cuddly or gross? – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) | New Dog Online
January 25th, 2011
4:13 pm
[...] webmaster@technorati.com wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt [...]
ok
January 25th, 2011
4:17 pm
I like animals; I do a lot of pet-sitting. I think dogs can be cute and fun to walk, but they’re also gross. I think it’s sad that several people said dogs in bed = ok, kids in bed = no way. M. Scott Peck wrote a short story quite awhile back about how animals in this country are treated better than children (in this and many other countries). I love our two rescue cats, but they are expected to have manners, and yes, you can train them like dogs, re no getting on the counter, table, etc. I know people who let them go where ever. again, gross. I def. don’t understand why people take their animals in the car with them. most other pets are, in the end, loveable and good companions, but also consumers and poopers, and there’s always that to deal with. I don’t ever want to have to pick up a dogs poop with my hand and carry it down the street.
Arthur J. Pendlecott
January 25th, 2011
4:21 pm
Myself & my neighbors have no problems with animals or kids!!
They’re both prohibited by our HOA. :)
Life is sweet.
abc
January 25th, 2011
4:26 pm
mjg, several have stated they were unable to make their dogs stay off of the furniture, if you choose to allow them to do so, that’s a different story, isn’t it?
AEL
January 25th, 2011
4:27 pm
I just have to say that my husband is a veterinarian, a CDC employee and is published in the journal of Emerging Infectious Diseases. Our 3 cats and 2 dogs sleep with us (not all at the same time!); rarely do we ever have a pet-free bed. I think Theresa is taking this warning too far.
Further, if your dog is vomiting often, it’s not good. You need to have your veterinarian evaluate what’s causing that.
Sleeping with your pets: Cuddly or gross? – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) | Online Dog Today
January 25th, 2011
4:29 pm
[...] News Sources wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt [...]
LM
January 25th, 2011
4:36 pm
We have two dogs, one a 6 lb chinese crested powder puff (think worlds ugliest dog w/hair) and a 60 lb appenzell. When my husband went to Afghanstain the crested started sleeping with me. I wanted the companionship and comfort. When my husband got home he got the appenzell who is now about 10 months old. He stays in his crate during the night and while we are at work. Can’t trust him loose in the house, he is a chewer and loves all things plastic. Neighter dog is an typical outdoor dog. We got them for companionship and not to leave outside. We used to let both dogs outside when we were working around the property but the crested when after one of the horses and got kicked, just a surface scratch.
If they were outside dogs, no not in the bed or in the bedroom. Also, I have severe allergies, hay, grass, trees, dust mits, and pet danger, if the dogs are kept clean and groomed, I can cope. I live on allergy meds, and gave up on allergy shots.
jarvis
January 25th, 2011
4:42 pm
@momgoose, she is in East Cobb County.
I’ll refrain from giving the school, as it is an elementary school so it is a tight population, and I would hate for a local parent to know, but yes, there is craziness all over.
LM
January 25th, 2011
4:44 pm
ABC, I loved my greyhound. She really was a lady, so gentle and sweet. We lost her in 2008 while she was being boarded at the vets. It was the hardest most painful loss I have ever experienced. She is the reason we got a chinese crested, she wanted a baby. If we ever get a bigger house, we are getting another greyhound. The breed just can’t be beat.
motherjanegoose
January 25th, 2011
4:50 pm
@ jarvis…if you want to send TWG your e-mail…she can pass it on to me and I will check in. Do not put the info on the blog, for the same reason I do not put my web page on the blog! I was out your way today!
@ abc…fair enough. We had Ole Yellar for years and he shed like CRAZY! We still find a stray blond hair once in a while and it has been over 3 years. It is really nice not to have any hair here now.
abc
January 25th, 2011
4:53 pm
My condolences on your loss, LM. It’s tough to lose them, I lost one to bone cancer last November, and have recently adopted another. Get another! greyhounds2.org, secondchancegreyhounds.org, greyhoundadoption.com are a few local adoption options.
nancy
January 25th, 2011
4:59 pm
OK,
If you think pets are gross why do you pet sit? I wouldn’t hire you
DoggieLover
January 25th, 2011
6:00 pm
I have always slept with my dogs, and never had a problem. I find it comforting to have them there with me….
So, Techmom...
January 25th, 2011
6:28 pm
…if you can’t stand for anyone or anyhing to touch you in bed, and you do not like to cuddle, how in the world did you get the last part of your blog name – through osmosis – or maybe the da Vinci code?
And, TWG takse a warning too far regarding ANYTHING that “might” happen – who would have thunk such a thing?
And, she knows where the dog’s mouth has been? As the old joke goes – “I was talking to the dog”…