About two-thirds of pet owners share their beds with their animals. But a recent study found parasites on dogs’ skin that can pose real risks to humans — one reason not to let pets sleep in your bed.
Dangerous Ticks and Other Parasites
Dr. Alejandra Perotti, a professor of invertebrate biology at the University of Reading in the UK, warns of the potential consequences of this practice.
Sleeping in the same bed as your dog can be harmful because ticks, fleas, and other parasites can bring microbes from your pet’s skin into your bedding.
Perotti says microscopic parasitic mites that live in dogs’ hair follicles “can harm owners with weakened immune systems.” These tiny creatures can cause infectious skin or respiratory conditions in humans that sometimes become chronic. Mites can cause scabies, while ticks can transmit Lyme disease.
Perotti cites the most common dog mite, Demodex canis, as a contributor to scabies. These parasites typically become more active in spring and summer.
Despite this, documented cases of human illness from dog mites are relatively few. Perotti says this is largely because mites often go unidentified; diagnosticians may assume the mites live on human skin rather than being transferred from pets.
Other Reasons Not to Let Your Dog in Bed
Many people find it comfortable, pleasant, and safe to sleep with their dog. But few realize it can degrade sleep quality, according to the Daily Mail.
Researchers from the British company Silentnight found that more than half of the 2,000 pet owners surveyed regularly move to the couch at night because their pets take up too much space.
About 94 percent of study participants reported waking up at night because their pet slept restlessly.
Hannah Shore, the study author, says that while cats, dogs, and humans have similar sleep patterns, animals have quirks. “Your pet may wake up in the middle of the night wanting attention, which can be quite annoying when you’re trying to sleep in the same bed,” she said.
She recommends setting rules so your pet doesn’t disturb you.
In 2022 the Blue Cross, a pet welfare charity, warned that dogs sleeping in human beds can overheat, especially if they are covered by a down comforter.
