UC Veterinarian Warns Against Pets in the Bed

by Dr. Chris

February 6, 2011 A UC Davis veterinary professor has a warning for people who kiss their pets or allow their into their beds with them. Doing so increases your chances of catching disease from your pets. Although the chances are low, some of these potential diseases can be quite severe.

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Published in the scientific journal Emerging Infectious Diseases, Bruno Chomel, DVM, says that since more and more people share beds with their pets and kiss them more, odds are that more people will end up with zoonotic diseases.

50% of dogs and 62% of cats share beds with their owners according to a report by the American Pet Products Association. This makes ample opportunity for bacteria, viruses, and parasites to transfer from pets to humans.

An example of some of the diseases that could be transmitted include staphylococcus infections, cat-scratch disease, plague, and ringworm.

The most common infection people get from pets is roundworms and hookworms. In severe cases these can cause people to have gi problems and anemia.

Young children, the elderly, and people with impaired immune systems are most at risk of zoonosis.

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