To sleep with your pet or not? That is the question!

by Casey Hampf
By: Judy Hamontre, AVHS Vice Chair
To sleep with your pet or not? That is the question!
According to a psychologist who wished to remain anonymous, “Sharing a bed with your furry friend may not be a good idea, except when it is, or worded another way, it is a good idea until it is not.”
Research results provide answers and points of view that are no more definitive than the advice of this psychologist.
Most recent surveys show that about half of our country’s cats and dogs sleep in bed with their humans which certainly does not offer any clarification on what is best.
Consider all the cats and dogs in your life? Did they sleep with you? Talk to family, friends and coworkers. Do their pets sleep with them? The results are probably mixed.
Instead of trying to answer “yes” or “no” to the question, “Should I let my cat or dog sleep with me?” perhaps a better approach, one authorities support, is to consider the pros and cons and then make your own decision based on your pet, your lifestyle and the relationship you have with your pet.
The reasons your pet should not be in your bed include:
Human allergies could be aggravated.
Your pet could bring you unwanted fleas, ticks, dirt and germs.
There is a risk of transmission of disease from pet to you or vice versa, although reported cases of this are rare.
Your quality of sleep could be negatively affected as your pet becomes restless or tries to hog the bed. Nocturnal habits of many cats can cause interruptions in your sleep.
Getting in and out of the bed can be difficult and cause injury for some smaller breeds of dogs or those with arthritis.
Some animal behaviorists believe a dog sleeping with its human can lead to such dependence that separation anxiety is more likely to occur when the human is away. Other authorities disagree, saying trust is intensified.
The reasons your pet should be welcomed into your bed include:
The pet can increase their human’s feelings of comfort and companionship, decreasing loneliness and depression, especially for those who live alone.
Pets can ease anxiety and provide safety and security because they are lighter sleepers, able to detect danger.
Pets have been proven to improve health by lowering blood pressure, and on cold nights they are great bed warmers.
Exposure to pets has been proven to help develop the immune system, especially in children.
Pets benefit by the closeness to their humans, reducing their anxiety and increasing their comfort, security and trust.
The pet-human bond is intensified.
Unfortunately, the research supporting both these pros and cons is not solidly and definitively proven. Medical professionals previously advised against co-sleeping with pets, but now recognize the emerging research that suggests the practice may have positive effects on physical and emotional health.
Sleeping with pets is not a modern phenomenon. It has existed throughout history and across cultures.
To sleep with a pet or not may always be a question. Not all pets want to sleep in the bed with their humans, and not all humans wish to share their beds with the pets they love. For now the answer is up to you and your pet.
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