Is it bad to let your pets sleep with you?
According to a poll conducted by Animalfriends, approximately 46% of Brits are quite happy to share a bed with their beloved pets1 and why not? Dogs and cats are an integral part of most people’s families, not to mention they’re extremely cuddly and can help to promote the feel-good hormone oxytocin.
However, while dogs and cats are the backbone of family life, the idea of them sharing our bed does seem to be a divisive issue, with some experts denouncing the practice while others seem to find nothing wrong with cuddling up to your pooch at night. So what’s the right thing to do for your sleep patterns? Below I’m going to take a look at few common queries that pop up whenever this tricky topic is mentioned and discuss what the experts recommend.
Will sleeping with my pet upset my allergies?
It doesn’t matter which side of the argument you stand on, the one thing that most experts seem to unite on is that, if you suffer from even the mildest allergy, your pets shouldn’t be allowed in your bedroom, never mind your bed.
This is because all dogs and cats produce something known as ‘animal dander.’ Animal dander is composed of the urine, saliva and dead skin cells secreted by your pet and it’s these substances rather than their fur which can have a negative impact on your immune system, triggering an inflammatory response that is responsible for the vast majority of allergy symptoms, such as sneezing, wheezing, sore throats and headaches.
My thoughts: As I’ve mentioned, this impact isn’t just limited to those with a specific pet allergy – if you suffer from asthma, hayfever or even eczema, then your pet should still be kept far away from your bedroom as allergens can stick to their fur, exacerbating your symptoms. If you want a bit more information about pets and allergies, I’d highly recommend reading our Allergy Advisor Louise’s articles on the subject which you can find listed below.
Are cat allergies worse than dog allergies?
Top tips for dog owners living with a pet allergy
Can pets make hayfever symptoms worse?
Does sleeping with your pet upset your sleep patterns
This is where opinions start to become divided – some sleep experts think that sleeping with an animal such as a dog or a cat has the potential to upset your sleep patterns during the night, causing problems such as insomnia and sleep deprivation.
However, according to research conducted by the Mayo Clinic, this may not be the always be the case. The study, which examined 40 dogs that slept in the same bed as their owners, found those that slept with their dogs generally experienced a settled night of sleep. Over a period of a week, most of the human participants had a sleep efficiency score of 81%2 so it seemed that in this case, the dogs weren’t posing a problem.
My thoughts: It’s important to consider that this is a relatively small sample group and that most of the human participants were generally good sleepers without any real problems. If you suffer from a pre-existing sleep issue such as insomnia, it’s unlikely that bedding down with your pet is going to improve matters as animals are unpredictable. Your dog or cat may sleep just fine one night and then spend the following evening tossing and turning and generally disrupting your sleep.
Can I catch germs from my pet?
Here’s the thing about dogs and cats – no matter how much you love them, there’s no arguing that they’re clean, sanitary creatures. Dogs seem almost magnetically drawn to mud and other sources of mess while cats enjoy hunting and devouring mice and other small furry creatures. This means that, even if you are washing your pet regularly, by the time they collapse on the mattress beside you, they’re packing a serious amount of germs.
Now, germs don’t always have to be a bad thing. Exposing yourself to new germs can help to strengthen your immune system, however, there’s also research out there that indicates you can pick up some not so healthy diseases and infections! This is because your pet can carry and spread a wide variety of bugs from salmonella to tapeworm. Some scientists are now even worrying that you may be able to contract the flu from your mutt!3
My thoughts: No matter how often you bathe them, you will never have a completely sanitary dog or cat. While I do think that there's nothing wrong with exposing yourself to a small amount of germs, there’s really no telling what your dog or cat is carrying into your bed so I’m afraid, in this instance, I’d consider keeping your pet away from your bed.
What’s the answer?
Well, overall, despite the benefits that dogs and cats can offer their owners, I’m afraid I still largely fall into the line of thinking that your pets do not belong inside your bedroom. Although they can certainly act as a comfort for some, dogs and cats are more than capable of upsetting your sleep patterns, as well as polluting your bed with unwanted allergens and germs.
However, once you have a pet that’s used to sleeping on your bed, training them out of the habit can be difficult. Cats, for example, don’t take well to having their territory restricted and dogs can become clingy. That’s why I’d recommend considering one of our animal essences if you are in the process of trying to get your pet out of your bedroom. Our Over Dominant Essence, for example, is good for territorial pets that have a tendency to exhibit impulsive or jealous behaviour while Timid Essence may be best for more nervy pets that are prone to shyness or easily stressed.
If you are finding it difficult to sleep without your furry friend curled up next to you, it may also help for you to consider a natural sleep remedy. For many of us, sharing our bed with our pets provides a source of comfort and a calming influence that can help to ease negative emotions such as stress or anxiety. However, once your pets are out of your bed, you’ll probably find yourself feeling more on edge. This is where Sleep Well Dissolvable Granules could help – this gentle remedy contains a blend of Lemon balm*, lettuce, L-tryptophan and magnesium, to help you maintain a normal sleep.
*Lemon Balm helps maintain a normal sleep
A.Vogel Sleep Well Dissolvable Granules | Pour Directly into Mouth | Bitter Orange Flavour
£15.99 (14 sachets x 2g) In Stock
2https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(17)30486-X/fulltext
