Did you know that if you sleep with your dog, you have a great chance of contracting diseases? Statistics show that more than half of the dog owners in US allow their dogs to sleep with them on their bed.

Zoonoses are diseases or infections transmitted from animals to humans. The risk for transmission of zoonotic agents by close contact between pets and their owners through bed sharing, kissing or licking is real and has even been documented for life-threatening infections such as plague, internal parasites and other serious diseases.

This is not only limited to dogs. Cats are also dangerous. In fact, studies show that diseases from cats are far more prevalent and much more serious. The number of cats snuggling up with their owner is far greater, which may explain the larger number of people acquiring feline-spawned diseases.

There is a lot of empirical evidence that shows that contact with pets can help the physically disabled and mentally challenged. But there is a price to be paid for this. The risk of getting sick from being close with your pets is real, but most of the diseases they pass on to humans can be identified and eliminated by regular veterinary care.