Are There Health Benefits to Letting Your Pet Sleep with You? (Vet-Reviewed Benefits and Risks)

Having a pet involves more than days spent playing, taking walks, or simply cuddling. At night, when the house is settling down, and it’s time for everyone to turn in, having a pet that wants to stay near you or their favorite family member isn’t all that uncommon. It’s normal for many humans involved in the equation to want their pets by their side while they’re sleeping as well. The big question is, are there any health benefits to letting your pet sleep with you?

While you may think having your pet by your side is simply a comfort thing, it isn’t. There are certain potential health benefits associated with having your pet in bed with you at night. However, there are also a few risks. Let’s take a look at both the benefits and risks below so you can determine whether sharing your bed with your best friend is the best thing for you.

The Potential Health Benefits of Allowing Your Pet to Sleep with You

If you’re one of the people who can get past losing part of your bed and hearing the snores of your pet, then you may already be experiencing some of the potential health benefits that may come with sharing your bed with your animals. If you’re still on the fence about letting your dog or cat in bed at night, taking a look at these possible health benefits may sway you.

Better Mental Health

Pets are a great way of helping fight depression, PTSD, and a host of other mental issues that many people face daily. However, it's important to also note that pets are not a replacement for professional mental health treatment. Oxytocin and serotonin are released by most people when they are in contact with a pet. These feel-good hormones can help fight depression, help reduce anxiety, and increase your sense of comfort, alongside other methods of improving your mental health. Sleeping with your pet can even help your self-esteem and reduce fearfulness due to the companionship it offers.

Promotes Relaxation and Easing into Sleep

As we just mentioned, sleeping with a pet helps the brain produce oxytocin. This hormone is known for eliciting calming and bonding effects, which can help reduce stress and promote relaxation. While the direct relationship between oxytocin and specific brainwaves is not fully understood, oxytocin has been shown to improve sleep quality by promoting a more relaxed state. Relaxation is essential for entering REM sleep, which is crucial for feeling rested and refreshed.

Reducing Insomnia

Insomnia can be quite detrimental to a person’s health. Having a pet in bed with you and increasing the feel-good hormones being produced can help ease some people who can’t sleep. In some cases, when the pet is nearby, those who have been suffering from lack of sleep feel comforted and secure enough to finally doze off. However, this effect can vary based on an individual and their preferences. While some people find their pets alongside them in bed soothing and helpful for sleep, others may find that their movements or noises disrupt their rest.

More Restful Sleep

We all need sleep–good sleep. Instead of tossing and turning, the comforting feeling we receive when our pets are with us in bed can help us sleep better. Some pet owners will experience better sleep quality when their trusted companion is snoozing beside them. But again, this depends on individual preferences, and some may find their pet disrupts their sleep.

Lowers Blood Pressure

All of the relaxation that having a pet nearby offers can also be beneficial for blood pressure in some cases. Some studies have shown that having pets may be able to help reduce hypertension and support cardiovascular health, although such effects may be modest. Not only do pets promote more exercise, but the easing of tension they offer can also be beneficial for the heart.

Effects on Immunity, Asthma, and Allergies

Having pets in the home instantly increases the number of germs, bacteria, and especially dander found indoors. While many people try to avoid being exposed to such things, others believe that having them around can help build up their body's immunity to them. More research is required into these assumptions and the so-called hygiene theory. Some studies suggest that children who grow up with pets, especially those who have early exposure to pet dander, may be less likely to develop asthma or allergies later in life, although more research is needed to define this more consistently.

The Potential Risks of Allowing Pets to Sleep With You

While there are certain health advantages to having a pet in bed with you at night, there are also a few risks involved. Before deciding you’re ready to invite your pet to share your bed, you should fully understand any negative effects.

Allergies

Some people with pet allergies simply cannot avoid having a beloved animal in the house. However, if you’re allergic, letting that pet into your bedroom could be a huge mistake. It’s best to keep dogs and cats out of the room where you sleep if you have allergies. Being in that space can cause serious issues when you’re trying to rest. Pet dander can be found in bedding, pillows, and other fabrics, which can exacerbate allergic reactions, particularly at night when people are more sensitive to allergens, causing nasal congestion, stuffiness, and coughing and leading to poor sleep quality.

Decreased Sleep

Perhaps your dog snores a lot, or your cat loves waking you up at 3 a.m. If that’s the case, then sharing your bed with them could actually decrease the amount of sleep you get. As we covered above, we all need a good night’s sleep. If your pet keeps you from having this, it may be best to keep them out of bed when you’re trying to rest.

Germ Exposure

Pets bringing germs and bacteria into your home is like a double-edged sword. This is especially true for those who have low immunity. While it may not happen often, pets can bring dangerous organisms into the home on rare occasions. The risk may be higher if they are not fully vaccinated and regularly dewormed. If you or someone in your home has low immunity, keeping the family pet out of the bedroom would be a good call.

Aggression

Having your dog or cat in bed with you may not always be a happy experience. When a pet is sleeping, they aren’t fully aware of what’s happening around them. It’s the same for humans. Being startled, bumped into, or jostled unexpectedly could promote a bit of a defensive reaction, such as running away or, in rare instances, even aggression from some animals. Dog and cat bites or scratches aren’t unheard of when they share a bed with their owners. For this reason, parents should be extra careful with their children. Kids aren’t able to pick up on signs of fearfulness or warning body language, or when something isn’t right with an animal. This can lead to accidents that parents don’t want to experience.

Is It Good for Your Pet?

Of course, not every pet should be in bed with its owner at night. Small animals like gerbils, guinea pigs, birds, and the like need to be in a safe area when nighttime rolls around. For the other animals, however, the closeness they feel when sleeping with their owners is quite good for them. It helps strengthen the bond humans and animals share. It also helps the animal feel comforted and protected as we do by having them by our side.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are both potential benefits and some recognised risks involved when it comes to letting your pet into your bed at night. Before you decide on what’s best for your situation, weigh all the options. Yes, you can change your mind at any point, but once your pet is used to being by your side, they could feel confused when you send them away. The last thing you want to do, as a good pet owner, is hurt your pet unintentionally by sending mixed signals.

Featured Image Credit: Daniel Myjones, Shutterstock