Log in or Sign up

Letting pets sleep in your bed can kill you!

Discussion in 'Dog News and Articles' started by Sweet72947, Jan 22, 2011.

Page 1 of 2

Sweet72947 Squishy face

Joined:

May 18, 2006

Messages:

9,159

Likes Received:

1

Trophy Points:

38

Gender:

Female

Occupation:

1 Dog, Norris!

Location:

Northern Virginia

Home Page:

http://www.memypetsandi.com

Yet another article from the fearmongerers. I find this one amusing. In comment to the case where a kid got the plague from sharing his bed with a flea infested cat, who lets their kid sleep with a flea infested animal??? That's disgusting.

Letting Sleeping Dogs Lie in Your Bed Can Kill You

Letting Sleeping Dogs Lie in Your Bed Can Kill You
Jan 20, 2011 â€“ 6:55 AM

Andrew Schneider Senior Public Health Correspondent

Medical researchers have long shown that contact with pets can often help both the physically and mentally ill. But now, veterinary scientists say sleeping with your pets increases the chances of contracting everything from parasites to the plague.

What's a pet owner to do?

Most U.S. households have pets, and more than half of those cats and dogs are allowed to sleep in their owner's beds, Drs. Bruno Chomel, a professor at the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, and Ben Sun, chief veterinarian for California's Department of Health, say in a study to be published in next month's issue of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Emerging Infectious Diseases.

A new study says it's best to let your dogs and cats sleep in their own beds.
"We wanted to raise the attention of people, as sleeping with a pet is becoming quite common, and there are risks associated with it, even if it is not very frequent," Chomel told AOL News. "But when it occurs, especially in children or immunocompromised people, it can be very severe."

The authors, both experts in zoonoses, which are diseases or infections transmitted from animals to humans, reported that "the risk for transmission of zoonotic agents by close contact between pets and their owners through bed sharing, kissing or licking is real and has even been documented for life-threatening infections such as plague, internal parasites" and other serious diseases.

How many of us admit to others that we sleep with our furry friends? Many of us do, according to the study.

Among dog owners, 53 percent consider their dog to be a member of the family, and 56 percent of those dog owners admit they sleep with their dog next to them, the researchers reported.

We're not just talking about teacup yorkies and chihuahuas here. Yes, the study says, most are small dogs, but 41 percent are medium-sized, and one out of three are large. Also, consider this fact, which the authors attribute to the American Kennel Club: Women were more likely than men to allow their dogs to share their beds.

As strange as it may be to canine lovers, more people have cats than dogs, and these felines also carry disease. This study and several others show that disease from cats is far more prevalent, and often more serious.

The number of cats snuggling up with their owner is far greater, which may explain the larger number of people acquiring feline-spawned diseases, Chomel explained.

Take cat scratch disease, for example. The bacterial infection, caused by Bartonella henselae, comes from infected fleas and flea feces and is transmitted to humans, often simply by a cat strolling across a food preparation area that isn't disinfected before food is placed on it. Mostly, the victims of cat scratch disease are children, infected by the scratch, lick or bite of a cat. The pathogen can cause swelling of the lymph nodes and sometime lethal damage to the liver, kidney and spleen of humans.

The CDC estimates that more than 20,000 people can contract cat scratch disease a year, but the federal disease agency could offer no information on the number of deaths.

Risks and Benefits

The CDC reports that pets may lower blood pressure, reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and decrease feelings of loneliness, while increasing opportunities for exercise, outdoor activities and socialization.

Medical studies going back at least 30 years have documented the clinical value of pets to cardiac patients, those hospitalized with mental illnesses and the elderly.

Sharing our resting hours with our pets may be a source of psychological comfort, but because pets can bring a wide range of zoonotic pathogens into our environment, sharing is also associated with risks, the authors of the current study reported.

For example:

* A 9-year-old boy from Arizona got the plague because he slept with his flea-infested cat.
* A 48-year-old man and his wife repeatedly contracted MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), which their physicians eventually attributed to their dog. The animal "routinely slept in their bed and frequently licked their face," the California experts reported.

Kissing pets can also transmit zoonoses. A Japanese woman contacted meningitis after kissing her pet's face.

But disease can easily be transmitted by your pet kissing you. The study cited cases where a woman died of septic shock and renal failure after her cat, with whom she slept, licked open sores on her feet and toes. In another case, a 44-year-old man died of infection after his German shepherd puppy licked open abrasions on his hands.

Your pet's food can also be a source of disease. A study published last August in the journal Pediatrics tracked an outbreak of salmonella in 79 people between 2006 and 2008 that was caused by contaminated meat in dry cat and dog food.

Half of the victims were children, who CDC investigators said "might also have played with the pet food and then put their hands -- or the food itself -- in their mouths."

The disease also could have come from pets who rolled or played in their feces, where salmonella can stay alive for up to 12 weeks.

Where do our pets they pick up these diseases? Fleas are a likely starting point. And most of your pets will eat the droppings of other animals.

Take a dog to any beach, park or trail through the woods almost anywhere and watch the speed at which it will find something really foul-smelling and dead in which to roll.

Cats usually do their own killing for food and fun. And just think about the infectious bugs that laced the dead and dying rodents, birds and other critters they eat or try to bring into the home.

What Can Be Done?

The two senior veterinarians say several things can be done to reduce the threat of disease. The main one is for owners to ensure the health of their pets by seeking regular professional checkups and care. Other points include:

* Persons, especially young children or immunocompromised persons, should be discouraged from sharing their bed with their pets or regularly kissing their pets.
* Any area licked by a pet, especially an open wound, should be immediately washed with soap and water.
* Pets should be kept free of parasites, especially fleas; routinely de-wormed; and regularly examined by a veterinarian.
* Preventive measures such as administering anthelmintic drugs for flatworms -- and drugs for flukes, tapeworms and other parasites -- to puppies or kittens within the first few weeks after birth or, even better, to their mothers during the last few weeks of pregnancy. This could help prevent most cases of human toxocariasis, which can cause severe and sometimes permanent vision problems for young children.

The risk of getting sick from being close with your pets is real, but most of the diseases they pass on to humans can be identified and eliminated by regular veterinary care.

Meanwhile, start practicing saying "Get off the bed. I mean it this time.
Click to expand...

Sweet72947, Jan 22, 2011

#1
Brattina88 Active Member

Joined:

Jan 10, 2004

Messages:

12,954

Likes Received:

6

Trophy Points:

38

Gender:

Female

Location:

OH

Is it funny, that this is the only thing in this article that stuck out to me?

Half of the victims were children, who CDC investigators said "might also have played with the pet food and then put their hands -- or the food itself -- in their mouths."
Click to expand...

Brattina88, Jan 22, 2011

#2
smkie pointer/labrador/terrier Staff Member

Joined:

Dec 16, 2004

Messages:

55,184

Likes Received:

35

Trophy Points:

48

Most U.S. households have pets, and more than half of those cats and dogs are allowed to sleep in their owner's beds, Drs. Bruno Chomel, a professor at the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, and Ben Sun, chief veterinarian for California's Department of Health, say in a study to be published in next month's issue of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Emerging Infectious Diseases.

if that was the case, more than half of us would be dead.

Been sleeping with them for 46 years and still kicking.

smkie, Jan 23, 2011

#3
Danefied New Member

Joined:

Nov 6, 2010

Messages:

1,722

Likes Received:

0

Trophy Points:

0

Occupation:

One husband of 15 years

Location:

Southeast

Yeah, this article showed up on another forum too. Dumbest thing I've read in a while. I send my 2nd graders to school everyday surrounded by far more nasty germs my dogs could ever hope to carry.

Here was the rebuttal blog - hilarious
Huh? Sleeping with my dog is dangerous? | PawshPal.com Blog

Danefied, Jan 23, 2011

#4
corgipower Tweleve Enthusiest

Joined:

Sep 19, 2007

Messages:

8,233

Likes Received:

0

Trophy Points:

36

Occupation:

4 dogs

Location:

here

Seriously??? Are we only at risk if we sleep with them? Do we not have contact with them any other time of day? Or are diseases only caught during sleep?

corgipower, Jan 23, 2011

#5
mrose_s BusterLove

Joined:

Mar 27, 2005

Messages:

12,169

Likes Received:

0

Trophy Points:

36

Occupation:

2 dogs, 2 rats

Location:

QLD, Australia

yeah.. I think I'll take my chances.

mrose_s, Jan 23, 2011

#6
~Dixie's_Mom~ ♥Chloe & Violet♥

Joined:

Aug 22, 2006

Messages:

8,159

Likes Received:

1

Trophy Points:

0

Occupation:

1 dog, 1 hamster (and several fish)

Location:

Tennessee

How many of us admit to others that we sleep with our furry friends?

So what, it's taboo or something? I agree, I'll take my chances.

~Dixie's_Mom~, Jan 23, 2011

#7
Lilavati Arbitrary and Capricious

Joined:

Sep 3, 2007

Messages:

7,644

Likes Received:

0

Trophy Points:

36

Occupation:

Way too many!

Location:

Alexandria, VA

Home Page:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/LaughingShadows

What is really weird is the report itself . . . almost all the serious incidents were one off freak events, or extremely rare occurrences.

Yeah, the risk is real. So is being struck by lightning.

And the common stuff is um, generally not associated with the pet sleeping in your bed, and isn't lethal either.

Hey, CDC, you have important things to do! Knock it off.

Lilavati, Jan 27, 2011

#8
kanita New Member

Joined:

Dec 15, 2014

Messages:

1

Likes Received:

0

Trophy Points:

0

If you are talking about Barney, that dog gave plenty of "warnings" and body language that said he did not want to be handled, did you actually see that video??
Not to mention the guy rushed up and thrust his hand into the dog's face - who does that, after seeing the dog's signals??

kanita, Dec 15, 2014

#9
MilliesMom Member

Joined:

Oct 10, 2012

Messages:

374

Likes Received:

0

Trophy Points:

16

Location:

Canada

"Any area licked by a pet, especially an open wound, should be immediately washed with soap and water."

I need to clean all my windows with some disinfectant (and maybe a blow torch), my little plague puppies have been working on their dog snot art.

Hope the author of this article never uses a public bathroom.

One more month and we could have stuck four candles in a cake and sung Happy Birthday to this thread.

MilliesMom, Dec 15, 2014

#10
sassafras mushinois

Joined:

Feb 26, 2011

Messages:

6,405

Likes Received:

0

Trophy Points:

36

Location:

Minnesota

Just another case where INCREASING THE RISK is pretty meaningless. If the risk is 0.1% and then you double it... oh, well. *yawn*

This goes in the bin with "flying increases your risk of dying in an airplane crash" and "swimming increases your risk of drowning."

sassafras, Dec 15, 2014

#11
Jadex Member

Joined:

Nov 19, 2014

Messages:

372

Likes Received:

1

Trophy Points:

18

Location:

New Hampshire, USA

Did you know that you're at risk of disease if you sleep with another person as well!!!!????

Omg....ruuuuun.

Jadex, Dec 15, 2014

#12
Doberluv Active Member

Joined:

Dec 31, 2004

Messages:

22,038

Likes Received:

2

Trophy Points:

38

Occupation:

retired

Location:

western Wa

smkie said: ↑

Most U.S. households have pets, and more than half of those cats and dogs are allowed to sleep in their owner's beds, Drs. Bruno Chomel, a professor at the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, and Ben Sun, chief veterinarian for California's Department of Health, say in a study to be published in next month's issue of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Emerging Infectious Diseases.

if that was the case, more than half of us would be dead.

Been sleeping with them for 46 years and still kicking.
Click to expand...

Exactly. They forgot to do their math.

Doberluv, Dec 19, 2014

#13
MilliesMom Member

Joined:

Oct 10, 2012

Messages:

374

Likes Received:

0

Trophy Points:

16

Location:

Canada

Jadex said: ↑

Did you know that you're at risk of disease if you sleep with another person as well!!!!????

Omg....ruuuuun.
Click to expand...

Hahahaha, my son's first year in school, I swear he was home sick more than in class. I used to call him "Mommy's Little Petri Dish". I think even the dog was afraid to sleep with him.

MilliesMom, Dec 21, 2014

#14
Doberluv Active Member

Joined:

Dec 31, 2004

Messages:

22,038

Likes Received:

2

Trophy Points:

38

Occupation:

retired

Location:

western Wa

MilliesMom said: ↑

Hahahaha, my son's first year in school, I swear he was home sick more than in class. I used to call him "Mommy's Little Petri Dish". I think even the dog was afraid to sleep with him.
Click to expand...

:rofl1::rofl1:

Doberluv, Dec 21, 2014

#15
Dogdragoness Happy Spring!!!!

Joined:

May 31, 2012

Messages:

4,168

Likes Received:

0

Trophy Points:

36

Occupation:

2

Location:

Gillett/Flower Mound TX

Yeah ... and humans aren't walking germ factories, right? Sleeping with a fellow member of my species makes me far more nervous than sharing my home with a dog.

Honestly, unless there is an allergy issue, I don't think there is much to fear, though I have run into my fair share of people who who are all like ... "ewww" when I mention I share my home with 5 dogs. Yet, our house doesn't smell, is not dirty etc ...

Dogdragoness, Dec 25, 2014

#16
MinPinOwner Member

Joined:

Mar 9, 2012

Messages:

554

Likes Received:

11

Trophy Points:

18

Location:

Northeast

Much of these problems are rare. I think I'll take my chances and sleep with my dogs.

MinPinOwner, Jan 29, 2015

#17
justin001 New Member

Joined:

Dec 10, 2014

Messages:

13

Likes Received:

0

Trophy Points:

0

Risk of Letting dog sleep in your bed

Although it is risky but in the case of small puppies its not so dangerous and its also depend upon the breed of dogs. If anyone loves puppy in their bed then they must have to do proper care of their dogs such as daily dog wash. This is the best way to take care of these loving ones.. Everyone knows dogs are the best friend of human beings and its all about caring them with sense. However keep the little kids away as much as possible from dogs.

justin001, Apr 20, 2015

#18
Ilovedogs56 New Member

Joined:

Feb 6, 2015

Messages:

255

Likes Received:

0

Trophy Points:

0

Occupation:

None, YET!

Location:

Wherever the wind blows me...

Did you know having eyes increases your chance of blinking? Noooooooo! :rofl1:

Ilovedogs56, Apr 20, 2015

#19
frostfell Kung Pow Fish

Joined:

Oct 6, 2012

Messages:

1,183

Likes Received:

0

Trophy Points:

0

Location:

Albany, New York

justin001 said: ↑

However keep the little kids away as much as possible from dogs.
Click to expand...

dont tell me what to do

frostfell, Apr 22, 2015

#20

(You must log in or sign up to reply here.)

Page 1 of 2

Share This Page