News Taffy

Do you have fur babies? If so, do they sleep with you? For many people, that would be a silly question as surveys have shown that more than 50% of cats and dogs sleep in the bed with their owners. However, there may be some health issues that you should think about before you snuggle up tonight.

I admit that I enjoyed sleeping with my cats for years until my husband finally had enough. Those pesky cats always knew who the weak link was and pestered him to no end when they wanted a midnight snack or some petting. Now the cats sleep in the laundry room at night and even if my husband is away, I find I sleep better without furry companions. For many reasons, physicians, veterinarians and animal trainers recommend against sleeping with your pets.

When pets sleep with you, it is important to use flea and tick prevention so you don’t wake up scratching. Make a habit of checking your animals daily for the occasional tick or flea during the summer season because they will crawl right on over to you. Fleas can infest your house quickly too.

Veterinarians and trainers warn that allowing dogs to sleep with you can lead to issues with aggression or housebreaking with young dogs. Dogs can become territorial or possessive of their space or of one individual and this could lead to biting, especially with children. Wait until the dog is older and training has been completed before allowing it to sleep on the bed.

Doctors highly recommend allergy sufferers or those with asthma keep pets out of the bedroom. You should also vacuum the whole house including furniture with a HEPA filter regularly and wash the sheets and blankets in hot water. Some people may find sleeping with pets to be relaxing or feel safer but for others, the pets may keep them up by hogging the bed, scratching or snoring. Your rest really is more important than snuggling with your pet. You can take an afternoon nap on the sofa with your four legged friend or watch TV together for some quality cuddle time.

When circumstances change, such as with the birth of a child or a new marriage, it will not be easy to change a pet’s sleeping habits. Your tabby or dog may develop destructive habits if locked out of the bedroom or act aggressively towards the new person. This can be avoided by not sleeping with the pet in the first place, keeping in mind that it isn’t fair to the pet to be booted out because of your new relationship. Dogs and cats really do appreciate having their own space to retreat to just like humans. As long as your dog gets plenty of exercise and potty breaks, it is perfectly acceptable to sleep in a crate at night.

If you do sleep with your pet, make sure Fido or Kitty gets regular vaccinations and checkups, including dental care. Though rare, animals can transmit diseases to humans such as ringworm and staph infections.