Health
If your pet likes to crawl into your bed, it could hurt you. There are cases when people became infected with various infections because they indulged their pets.
Zoonosis, diseases transmitted from animals to humans, include plague, which fleas can carry, infection with methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (a bacterium that is difficult to cause treatable diseases), infections caused by other bacteria that are resistant to various types of antibiotics, and infection with parasitic worms.
Bruno Chomel, professor at the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of California, said he started the study this question after collecting a lot of stories from my students about their relationships with pets, as well as stories from other pet owners.
“In many countries, pets replace children, so animals are treated the same as their own children. However, sometimes caring for a pet goes beyond all limits, “Chromel and his colleague Ben Sun wrote in an article for Emerging Infectious Diseases magazine.
The researchers referred to studies conducted in the US, UK, France and Holland, which showed that 14 to 45 percent of dogs sleep in the same bed as their owner, and 45 to 62 percent cats are also allowed to crawl into their owners' bed. Women were more likely than men to say their pets sleep on their beds all the time (25% and 16%, respectively). These studies were conducted in 2005 by the American Kennel Club.
“I think it's very nice to keep animals at home, but you shouldn't let them go to bed,” said Cromel.
Since 1974, many cases of plague in the southwestern United States have been linked to people allowing cats that had fleas to sleep in the same bed as them. The plague is carried by fleas. In 2008, a study found that people infected with bubonic plague were more likely to let dogs into their beds than those who were spared the disease. Dogs are the most dangerous carriers, as they rarely get sick themselves, and the owners simply do not know to show the animals to the doctor. Veterinarians are more likely to notice symptoms in cats that have symptoms similar to humans, Chromel said.
Several cases of pasteurellosis have been seen when people let animals into bed or kissed them. This is a bacterial infection that can lead to pneumonia, abscesses, and even blood problems. There was a case in which an infant contracted pasteurellosis after two dogs licked his two-year-old brother's hands, who then played with him.
In many cases, patients also contract various infections after allowing dogs to lick their wounds or when animals bite. In the US, infections with various parasites are primarily associated with dogs that carry worms and worms, scientists say. Some researchers suggest that worm eggs may be on dogs' fur, which then end up in humans.
It is not yet clear exactly how often pets transmit infections to humans. Studies have so far been conducted on the basis of documented cases. Chromel stressed that children and those with a weak immune system are at greatest risk.
Scientists recommend not letting your pets in bed or kissing them. If the animal licks its skin, especially if you have wounds or scratches on your skin, you should immediately wash these areas with soap and water. You also need to ensure that animals do not develop fleas and worms, and visit the veterinarian regularly.