Love your pet? Is Fluffy or Fido like part of the family? For most pet owners, the answer is of course, “yes”. In fact, various surveys indicate that up to 62% of pet owners allow their pets to sleep in their beds with them. Unfortunately, (and I know that many pet owners won’t want to hear this) this practice may lead to a variety of health problems.

Achoo staffers tell our customers every day that pets in your bed increase problems for allergy sufferers, but there are additional problems that your pet may bring into your bed. Insomnia and other sleep disorders may arise from sleeping with restless pets that kick, snore, or even hog the covers. According to the Centers for Disease Control, pets in your bed increase your risk of contracting zoonoses-diseases or infections which are transmitted from animals to humans. These zoonoses are often transmitted through kissing, licking, or sleeping with pets.

Although the risk to healthy adults with healthy pets is said to be minimal, those with weakened immune systems are at a much greater risk. This group includes the elderly, cancer patients, HIV/AIDS patients, and children under the age of five. In addition, allergies and asthma are further exacerbated by the pet dander and particle allergens carried by pets. Many physicians say that those in these high risk categories should keep pets not only out of their beds, but out of their bedrooms altogether.

Here are some tips for pet owners:

• Have a special spot for your pet to sleep, such a crate or a pet bed.
• Make sure your pet visits the vet regularly to help fight fleas, worms, and other parasites.
• Bathe and groom your pet regularly with Ecology Works Pet Shampoo, especially “outside pets”.
• Use specialized pet care and cleaning products and a HEPA vacuum cleaner.
• Use an air purifier with a HEPA filter to cut down on airborne allergens.
• Any area licked or scratched by a pet should immediately be washed with soap and water.