For those of us who are pet owners, we realize that they are not just pets, but members of the family. And there’s not much that a lot of pet owners won’t do for their fur babies.
We just recently bought a miniature cot for our Morkie to sit on so she could see out the balcony doors better, and she really seems to enjoy it thus far. She’s pretty nosey, so this helps her stay on top of all the comings and goings around our apartment.
Another way that pet owners spoil their pets is by letting them sleep on the bed with them. Most of time, the cat or dog likes to either snuggle with their humans or they feel the need to be close to them.
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Most of us feel that it’s quite harmless but that’s not the case according to a 2023 article I found from AARP. Here are the reasons a veterinarian says we shouldn’t be letting our dogs and cats sleep in our beds.
First, jumping off the bed can injure your pet. The article says that 20% of dogs have arthritis and jumping off the bed isn’t good for their joints. As cats get older, they begin to experience joint issues as well.
There could also cause an injury if you were to get up in the night, the pet could get in the way, which could lead to a nasty spill.
Secondly, your pet could carry fleas and ticks into your bed, which nobody wants. There is itching from the fleas, but Lyme disease from ticks could also set up, which creates a whole other set of problems.
Pets can also transmit ringworms to their humans as well, again something we don’t want.
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The third reason is having your pet in your bed could affect the quality of sleep you get. If you are finding yourself more tired, you have to ask yourself, is it because your pet is occupying more than their space in the bed which is causing you not to rest well?
The article says that some pet parents find cats affect their sleep more than dogs.
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A fourth reason sleeping with your pet is a bad idea is it could cause your allergies to be worse. Even if your dog or cat doesn’t sleep with you but gets on your bed, this could cause your allergies to rage against you.
The fifth reason AARP lists as a reason your dog or cat should not sleep with you is that it’s a romantic buzzkill. Anyone who owns a pet probably has a story about this, even if the pet doesn’t sleep in your room.
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The vet who contributed to this article says that pets don’t understand what is going on and can become quite defensive or aggressive.
And finally, the dirt and germs your pet can bring along with them could be very problematic for you and your significant other.
These are all good reasons pet owners should take a good look at to see if you need to start the process of re-training your dog to sleep elsewhere.
AARP does say that having your pets in bed can be good for those battling depression or anxiety. And they’re also good for security, especially if you are a sound sleeper. Your pet is likely to know how to get your attention in case of a fire or a break-in.
This really comes down to a personal decision, but you have to admit there are some valid reasons for having your pet sleep separately.
Give it a try at least, who knows maybe you’ll wake up feeling rested without a runny nose or itchy eyes.
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