Sleeping With a Pet - Potential Benefits & Hazards

If you are a pet owner, then chances are your pampered pooch gets to cuddle with you when it's time for lights out. According to the American Pet Products Association (APPA), 68 % of American households have a pet. More people own dogs than cats, but overall, it's quite obvious that we love our pets. And the loving doesn't stop when it's time to go to sleep. In fact, the APPA found that almost half of the dog owners bring their dogs to bed at night with them. This is hardly surprising since dogs are considered "man's best friend." But how does bringing your pet to bed affect your quality of sleep? Is it helpful to have your beloved pooch next to you or is it a hindrance? Read on to discover what the experts have to say about this topic.

Benefits of bringing a dog to bed with you

Pets Can be a Comfort to Their Owners

Anyone who has ever had a pet will tell you their pet comforts them. That is one of the reasons we love our furry companions. They give people continual comfort. When a person who is lonely or even frightened has a dog nearby at night, they will feel reassured.

Dogs lower blood pressure

Have you ever noticed how calm you feel after petting your dog? That's because when you pet your animal, it actually helps release a hormone that calms you down. This, in turn, brings your blood pressure down. For those who have higher blood pressure, a dog in the bed with you at night can help bring your blood pressure down, which improves your overall quality.

A pet in bed keeps you warmer

This is more pertinent for those who sleep alone. Depending on the size of your dog, you'll gain a bit of body heat. Feeling that warmth next to you throughout the night can be very soothing.

Reasons you may not want to bring your dog to bed with you

Of course, with every positive reason to bring your dog to bed with you, there is a negative reason not to.

Interrupts sleep

Mayo Clinic did a study about whether pets helped or hindered people sleeping when they were brought to bed with them. The study revealed that there was a slight change in sleep quality. The rate of sleep quality was 83 % for those without one and 80 % for those with one. Now, this was for the people who brought pets to bed not just to the room. But even at the rate of 80%, it is still within the normal range.

Contributes to insomnia

People who are already prone to insomnia probably shouldn't have a pet in the bed with them the professionals say. Why is that? If you are having trouble falling asleep, then every little thing the animal does will distract even further. No doubt your tossing and turning may hinder the pet from sleeping too. In the end, you may both keep each other awake.

Makes allergies worse

If you suffer from allergies, a pet is not going to make your situation any better. Going to bed at night might be the only time you don't have to deal with allergy issues. But if you bring your pet with you, then you're inviting trouble.

So what should you conclude about having a pet in the bed with you? If you've already been doing it, then it's going to be almost impossible to quit. If you find that your sleep in suffering very badly, then you may want to consider your options. However, if you don't have any sleep problems and you usually fall asleep without a problem, then your beloved pet can stay put beside you in the bed. The most important thing for you to do is to be sure you have a comfortable mattress.  Also, pets can have unpredictable bladders.  We recommend the use of a mattress protector for every mattress, regardless of the situation, but our Organic Cotton Waterproof Mattress Protectors can help give you peace of mind that your mattress is staying dry as your little buddy sleeps next to you... or on top of you!

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