Dogs (and cats) make dangerous bed buddies
Many of us do it, many of know we shouldn't, but once bad habits are formed they can be very hard to break! We are of course talking about sharing your bed with your pooch!
So, apart from the obvious inconvenience of bed sharing with pooch, what harm can it really do? Well - according to research published on Monday in the journal of emerging infectious diseases, inconvenience should be the last of your worries!
The study revealed that millions of our cats and dogs who have wormed their way into our bedrooms are capable of transmitting (to us) some very nasty parasites, bacteria and infectious diseases!
They are quick to inform us that this is fairly rare with healthy well inoculated pets, however they are equally as quick to point out that the risk for transmission of such infectious agents is very real, and DOES happen! They actively warn against bed sharing, allowing pooch to lick you and doggy kisses!
Of the 60 million dogs in the United States, an estimated 21 to 33 percent sleep with their owners. France and the United Kingdom share similar percentages.
In a review of the literature, the study shockingly reveals that there have been dozens of cases of bubonic plague from sick and flea infested cats and dogs! The researches warn dog owners to be on their guard, as unlike their cat counterparts they very rarely show signs of illness or disease, when - in fact they could very well be harbouring something rather nasty!
Recently hear in the UK a woman who contracted meningitis admitted to regularly kissing her pet dog! Nice! A woman aged 44 years who lives in China who also contracted meningitis also admitted to similar acts of affection, shockingly she also admitted to feeding her dog by transferring food from mouth to mouth!! Both cases were featured in the research!
So...there you have it, if there was ever a reason to keep pooches bed very much separate from us humans, this is it!
Image source: flickr user markhillary
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