The unconditional love, loyalty, emotional support and companionship pets provide are enough to make them a part of the family. These positive attributes often allow some pets perks and privileges like sleeping on the bed. Although co-sleeping with your furry friend may bring comfort to both humans and pets, there are a few drawbacks to consider.
Let’s delve into the pros and cons of having your pet sleeping in the bed.
Pros
Boosts mental health
Pets assist in relieving stress and anxiety and foster social and emotional connections that can affect one’s mood and overall mental health, explains the health-based publication, Healthline. For individuals with long-term mental health problems, pets should be considered a main source of support, suggests a 2016 study.
Provides comfort and security
Great news if you are a dog person: According to a 2018 survey of adult women as shared by Healthline, a dog in bed was associated with comfort and security more so than sleeping with another person or cat.
Full-body awareness
SleepFoundation.org, a website that provides comprehensive health information on sleep, states that pets are demonstrated to improve one’s physical health in numerous ways, such as decreasing cholesterol and triglyceride levels and lowering blood pressure.
Cons
Exposure to germs
When pets bring germs into the home, it can have both positive and negative effects, explains SleepFoundation.org. Exposure to a broad variety of bacteria and other microbes may help strengthen the human immune system. However, pets can carry in harmful bacteria, viruses, and parasites too, putting the families they live with at risk.
Territorial behaviour
Pets – specifically dogs – are more likely to bite when abruptly awoken from sleep. Healthline also shares that some dogs may growl or bark if someone approaches the bed, as they may deem their sleeping spot as territory to be guarded.
May aggravate allergies
The above-mentioned health-based publication also notes that pets can carry allergens like dust and pollen into the bed which can aggravate severe allergies and asthma.
