Family Life

01.24.11 | Sarah Harnisch

Having pets in bed can make you ill. That's what two top experts in animal-human disease transmission say. More then 60 percent of Americans have a pet, and depending on the survey, 14 to 60 percent of them allow their dogs and cats to sleep with them. Bruno Chomel, a professor of veterinary medicine at the University of California, says pets should not go beyond next to the bed. Why? Pathogens on your pet, varying from the Bubonic Plague, Cat Scratch Disease, and dangerous bacteria on their bodies and their tongues. The experts also warned against kissing your pet or allowing them to kiss your lips. They say the benefits of having a pet far outweigh the risks, just let them sleep on the floor.