Is sharing the bed with your pets good for them — or you? Experts weigh in
By Sandee LaMotte, CNN
In the quest for better sleep, people often ask if they should share their bed with a pet. Before we get to that, let’s take a moment to ponder the flip side:
Is sleeping with you good for your pet?
“I love that we’re reversing the question,” said Dr. Dana Varble, the chief veterinary officer for the North American Veterinary Community. “In general, it is a very good thing for animals to sleep with their people.”
Pets who share their human’s bed tend to have a “higher trust level and a tighter bond with the humans that are in their lives. It’s a big display of trust on their part,” Varble said.
“Dogs and cats who are more closely bonded with their humans get additional health benefits, including increases in beneficial neurotransmitters such as oxytocin and dopamine, the feel-good hormones,” she added.
Is it just dogs and cats who benefit from human bed partners? Yes, Varble said, with a “very, very few exceptions.”
“I have one owner who has a meticulously groomed pot-bellied pig who sleeps at the foot of their bed,” she said. “It’s an indoor pig named Norbert — pot-bellied pigs are almost like dogs because they’re very social.” (Norbert even has his own Instagram account.)
Pros and cons for humans
With that important matter out of the way, let’s turn to you — is it good for you to sleep with a pet? Experts have traditionally said no because you might not get quality shut-eye.
“Animals may move, bark and disrupt sleep. Sleep in dogs (and cats) is not continuous and they will inevitably get up and walk on the bed, stepping on people. All of that activity will lead to sleep fragmentation,” said Dr. Vsevolod Polotsky, director of sleep research and a professor in the department of medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
These “microawakenings,” which can happen without your awareness, “are disruptive because they pull you out of deep sleep,” said Kristen Knutson, an associate professor of neurology and preventive medicine at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. “They have been associated with the release of the stress hormone, cortisol, which can make sleep even worse.”
That may be true for many of us, but recent studies have shown that pets in the bedroom could be beneficial for some of us.
“People with depression or anxiety may benefit from having their pet in the bed because the pet is a big pillow, a big blanket, and they may feel that snuggly, cuddly, furry creature decreases their anxiety,” said sleep specialist Dr. Raj Dasgupta, an assistant professor of clinical medicine at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California.
About 20% however, did believe their furry friends made their slumber worse.
Another 2017 study put sleep trackers on dogs and their humans to measure the quality of repose for both. People who had their dogs in their bedroom got a decent night’s rest (and so did the dogs), the research team found.
However, sleep quality declined when people moved their dog from the floor to the bed.
Children may benefit from sleeping with a pet as well. A 2021 study asked adolescents ages 13 to 17 to wear sleep trackers for two weeks and then undergo a state-of-the-art sleep test. About a third of the kids slept with a pet, the study noted, which didn’t appear to affect the quality of their rest.
“In fact, frequent co-sleepers showed similar sleep profiles to those who never slept with pets,” the authors wrote.
“All of this suggests that having pets in the bed or bedroom is not necessarily bad,” said Dr. Bhanu Prakash Kolla, a sleep medicine specialist in the Center for Sleep Medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
“There can be significant psychological comfort in having your pet close by, which can help both initiate and maintain sleep,” Kolla said.
“However, if patients are reporting that movement or other activities of the pet are disruptive to their sleep we then counsel them to try to look at alternate arrangements for the pet at night and see if that helps with their sleep,” he added.
“Dogs are usually good for an entire night but cats can be very nocturnal,” Breus said, adding that another factor is how “much you both move, as movement by the animal can wake the human and vice versa.”
Pets, like people, can also snore and disrupt sleep, so be sure to take that into account, Breus said. Small dogs and cats often like to snuggle under the covers with their people, but that can raise your body temperature and disrupt your sleep. (The best sleeping temperature is a bit chilly, at 65 degrees Fahrenheit or 18.3 degrees Celsius.)
If you’re thinking of bringing your fur baby to bed, Breus suggested you give it a try for only a couple of nights, so that you don’t condition your pet to expect it before you decide if it’s good for you.
Some of us should abstain
Despite the new science, many of us still need to think twice about bringing our dogs, cats or indoor pigs into our beds.
“It is particularly harmful in people with insomnia or in patients with other sleep disorders — patients with delayed sleep phase (night owls) or even in folks with sleep apnea, who wake up from breathing cessation and then are unable to go back to sleep,” Polotsky said.
“Insomniacs are the most susceptible,” Polotsky said. “Co-sleeping with pets will not necessarily predispose or precipitate insomnia, but it might perpetuate it.”
Anytime your sleep cycles are interrupted, you disturb the brain’s ability to repair itself on a cellular level, consolidate memories, store new information, and ready the body for optimal performance.
The “sweet spot” for a proper rest is when you can slumber continuously though the four stages of sleep four to six times each night. Since each cycle is roughly 90 minutes long, most people need seven to eight hours of relatively uninterrupted sleep to achieve this goal.
A chronic lack of solid rest, therefore, impacts your ability to pay attention, learn new things, be creative, solve problems and make decisions.
There is another reason why snuggling with pets all night may not be good for your health. If you are one of the millions of people who suffer from asthma, allergies or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, sleeping with a furball could become a nightmare.
“My asthma patients, my COPD patients, they always say, ‘Hey Doc, don’t worry, my dog doesn’t shed,'” said Dasgupta, who is also a pulmonologist.
“And I tell them, ‘Yes, but remember, allergens are in saliva, they are in the dog’s skin. So you’re gonna be exposed to allergens for eight hours at night and suffer watery eyes and a stuffy nose. That, along with the animal’s movement, could well prevent you from getting some good sleep,'” he said.
Some pets should not join the family bed
Let’s get back to what’s best for your pet: When is it not a good idea for a furry friend to sleep with you?
“Obviously, young puppies or dogs that are working through behavior issues — it might not be good for them to sleep with you,” Varble said. “If you have a dog with anxiety, we teach that kennels are a safe space.
“Kennels that have three sides make them feel like they only have to ‘protect themselves’ from one angle. We want to teach them that there’s a secure place in your house,” she said.
And there are some pets, Varble said, you should never invite to bed to spoon.
“I work with exotic pets, and a lot of them have very specific health and safety requirements, including being in an enclosure,” Varble said. “So while I know people who are very close to their ferrets and their guinea pigs, they need to be in their enclosure for their health at night. Those are not animals that we would want to have in bed with us.”
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Is sharing the bed with your pets good for them — or you? Experts weigh in
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As man’s best friend, dogs do everything with us: walk around town, ride in the car, play in the yard, and snuggle on the couch. It’s natural, then—given how much time we spend with our four-legged companions—to assume they can eat with us, too. However, human food can be dangerous for dogs, even types of food that are completely safe for us.
Part of the reason we can eat foods that they can’t is that dogs are so much smaller than us. They also weigh far less, which means their bodies can’t absorb things as quickly. “Foods that are perfectly suitable for human consumption, as well as other animals, may be toxic and even poisonous to your dog, posing a serious threat to their health and well-being,” writes Canine Journal co-founder Michelle Schenker. “Why? Because all animals have very different rates of metabolism.”
Another problem is that dogs have voracious appetites and don’t always know when to stop. Although some foods are not toxic in small doses, larger quantities can be fatal. Signs of food poisoning in dogs can vary widely, but key symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, dilated pupils, loss of appetite, restlessness, staggering, and disorientation. If you suspect your dog has eaten something toxic, VetsNow recommends never to induce vomiting unless a poison control expert has instructed you to do so. Certain substances can actually cause more damage coming back up and are best left in a dog's stomach.
To prepare yourself for a potential incident, always keep your vet’s phone number handy, along with an after-hours clinic you can call in an emergency. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center also has a hotline you can call for advice at (888) 426-4435.
Even with all of these resources, however, the best cure for food poisoning is preventing it in the first place. To give you an idea of which human foods can be dangerous, Stacker put together a slideshow of 30 common foods to avoid. Take a look to see if there are any that surprise you.
As man’s best friend, dogs do everything with us: walk around town, ride in the car, play in the yard, and snuggle on the couch. It’s natural, then—given how much time we spend with our four-legged companions—to assume they can eat with us, too. However, human food can be dangerous for dogs, even types of food that are completely safe for us.
Part of the reason we can eat foods that they can’t is that dogs are so much smaller than us. They also weigh far less, which means their bodies can’t absorb things as quickly. “Foods that are perfectly suitable for human consumption, as well as other animals, may be toxic and even poisonous to your dog, posing a serious threat to their health and well-being,” writes Canine Journal co-founder Michelle Schenker. “Why? Because all animals have very different rates of metabolism.”
Another problem is that dogs have voracious appetites and don’t always know when to stop. Although some foods are not toxic in small doses, larger quantities can be fatal. Signs of food poisoning in dogs can vary widely, but key symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, dilated pupils, loss of appetite, restlessness, staggering, and disorientation. If you suspect your dog has eaten something toxic, VetsNow recommends never to induce vomiting unless a poison control expert has instructed you to do so. Certain substances can actually cause more damage coming back up and are best left in a dog's stomach.
To prepare yourself for a potential incident, always keep your vet’s phone number handy, along with an after-hours clinic you can call in an emergency. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center also has a hotline you can call for advice at (888) 426-4435.
Even with all of these resources, however, the best cure for food poisoning is preventing it in the first place. To give you an idea of which human foods can be dangerous, Stacker put together a slideshow of 30 common foods to avoid. Take a look to see if there are any that surprise you.
Is sharing the bed with your pets good for them — or you? Experts weigh in
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Garlic is an allium, a family of foods that can be fatal to dogs due to a compound called thiosulfate that damages red blood cells. It takes a lot of garlic to cause toxicity but some breeds, particularly Japanese ones (such as Akitas and Shiba Inus), are particularly susceptible. “Signs of garlic poisoning can be delayed and not apparent for several days,” explains the Pet Poison Helpline. “While tiny amounts of these foods in some pets, especially dogs, may be safe, large amounts can be very toxic.”
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Garlic is an allium, a family of foods that can be fatal to dogs due to a compound called thiosulfate that damages red blood cells. It takes a lot of garlic to cause toxicity but some breeds, particularly Japanese ones (such as Akitas and Shiba Inus), are particularly susceptible. “Signs of garlic poisoning can be delayed and not apparent for several days,” explains the Pet Poison Helpline. “While tiny amounts of these foods in some pets, especially dogs, may be safe, large amounts can be very toxic.”
Is sharing the bed with your pets good for them — or you? Experts weigh in
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Avocados are dangerous to many animals, not just dogs, partly due to a fungicidal toxin called persin. It’s generally understood that only high doses of poison are actually lethal, but even more mild symptoms—including vomiting and diarrhea—should obviously be avoided, not to mention the large pits that can be choking hazards.
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Avocados are dangerous to many animals, not just dogs, partly due to a fungicidal toxin called persin. It’s generally understood that only high doses of poison are actually lethal, but even more mild symptoms—including vomiting and diarrhea—should obviously be avoided, not to mention the large pits that can be choking hazards.
Is sharing the bed with your pets good for them — or you? Experts weigh in
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Eating unbaked bread dough can be extremely dangerous for your dog because the fermenting yeast gets rapidly absorbed in the bloodstream, where it produces enough ethanol to cause alcohol poisoning. Additionally, yeast dough can rise as it moves through the digestive system, potentially twisting the stomach—a situation that can lead to death. Even if the yeast doesn’t cause a life-threatening emergency, it can severely bloat your pup’s stomach, causing intense pain and discomfort.
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Eating unbaked bread dough can be extremely dangerous for your dog because the fermenting yeast gets rapidly absorbed in the bloodstream, where it produces enough ethanol to cause alcohol poisoning. Additionally, yeast dough can rise as it moves through the digestive system, potentially twisting the stomach—a situation that can lead to death. Even if the yeast doesn’t cause a life-threatening emergency, it can severely bloat your pup’s stomach, causing intense pain and discomfort.
Is sharing the bed with your pets good for them — or you? Experts weigh in
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Chocolate is one of the most commonly recognized toxins for dogs. The culprit is theobromine, an alkaloid that can cause cardiac arrhythmias and central nervous system dysfunction in dogs. Dark chocolate, semisweet chocolate, and unsweetened baker’s chocolates are the most dangerous, while milk and white chocolates have smaller amounts (though they can be toxic, too). Toxicity depends on many factors including the amount consumed and the size of the dog.
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Chocolate is one of the most commonly recognized toxins for dogs. The culprit is theobromine, an alkaloid that can cause cardiac arrhythmias and central nervous system dysfunction in dogs. Dark chocolate, semisweet chocolate, and unsweetened baker’s chocolates are the most dangerous, while milk and white chocolates have smaller amounts (though they can be toxic, too). Toxicity depends on many factors including the amount consumed and the size of the dog.
Is sharing the bed with your pets good for them — or you? Experts weigh in
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Although humans love rhubarb pies, the sweet treat can cause kidney failure in dogs due to an antinutrient called oxalic acid. The substance creates crystals in the urinary tract and can cause the kidneys to shut down. Signs of rhubarb poisoning can include drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, bloody urine, changes in thirst, and other symptoms.
Although humans love rhubarb pies, the sweet treat can cause kidney failure in dogs due to an antinutrient called oxalic acid. The substance creates crystals in the urinary tract and can cause the kidneys to shut down. Signs of rhubarb poisoning can include drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, bloody urine, changes in thirst, and other symptoms.
Is sharing the bed with your pets good for them — or you? Experts weigh in
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While oranges are typically fine for your dog to eat, citrus oil—often used medicinally—is not. This is because of the insecticidal properties of the oil, which can lead to liver failure in dogs. In addition to preventing your pup from ingesting it, you should never rub it on your dog’s skin medicinally because they are likely to lick it off. (Note: Many essential oils contain citrus, not just citrus oil itself.)
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While oranges are typically fine for your dog to eat, citrus oil—often used medicinally—is not. This is because of the insecticidal properties of the oil, which can lead to liver failure in dogs. In addition to preventing your pup from ingesting it, you should never rub it on your dog’s skin medicinally because they are likely to lick it off. (Note: Many essential oils contain citrus, not just citrus oil itself.)
Is sharing the bed with your pets good for them — or you? Experts weigh in
Jessica Merz // Flickr
Many nuts are not good for dogs. Macadamia nuts, however, rank among the most toxic. The reason for this is not fully understood by vets, but it’s known that it leads to vomiting, weakness, hyperthermia, and loss of bodily functions. Weakness, particularly behind the hind legs, is one of the most common symptoms. Always call your veterinarian if you suspect your dog has consumed a dangerous amount of macadamia nuts.
Jessica Merz // Flickr
Many nuts are not good for dogs. Macadamia nuts, however, rank among the most toxic. The reason for this is not fully understood by vets, but it’s known that it leads to vomiting, weakness, hyperthermia, and loss of bodily functions. Weakness, particularly behind the hind legs, is one of the most common symptoms. Always call your veterinarian if you suspect your dog has consumed a dangerous amount of macadamia nuts.
Is sharing the bed with your pets good for them — or you? Experts weigh in
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Although cat food won’t poison your dog immediately, it can lead to pancreatitis and other health complications over time, causing organ damage and potentially sudden death. Every now and then it’s OK if you're in a pinch—but be sure not to feed cat food to your pup on an ongoing basis.
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Although cat food won’t poison your dog immediately, it can lead to pancreatitis and other health complications over time, causing organ damage and potentially sudden death. Every now and then it’s OK if you're in a pinch—but be sure not to feed cat food to your pup on an ongoing basis.
Is sharing the bed with your pets good for them — or you? Experts weigh in
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No one knows what ingredient or compound in grapes and raisins makes them so poisonous to dogs, but they rank among the most serious food threats. Even small amounts can cause sudden kidney failure, often signaled by your dog ceasing to urinate. Other symptoms include foul breath, loss of appetite, vomiting, and diarrhea. Some dogs are extremely susceptible to grape and raisin poisoning while others can eat them with no problem—something else that confounds experts.
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No one knows what ingredient or compound in grapes and raisins makes them so poisonous to dogs, but they rank among the most serious food threats. Even small amounts can cause sudden kidney failure, often signaled by your dog ceasing to urinate. Other symptoms include foul breath, loss of appetite, vomiting, and diarrhea. Some dogs are extremely susceptible to grape and raisin poisoning while others can eat them with no problem—something else that confounds experts.
Is sharing the bed with your pets good for them — or you? Experts weigh in
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Spinach is the subject of widespread debate among veterinarians and other dog experts. It contains a high amount of oxalic acid, a substance known to interfere with dogs’ abilities to absorb calcium, causing kidney damage. Like many foods on this list, how much is consumed has a lot to do with how toxic it is. It’s probably OK for your dog to have a small amount of spinach every now and then, but regular consumption can lead to serious health problems.
Spinach is the subject of widespread debate among veterinarians and other dog experts. It contains a high amount of oxalic acid, a substance known to interfere with dogs’ abilities to absorb calcium, causing kidney damage. Like many foods on this list, how much is consumed has a lot to do with how toxic it is. It’s probably OK for your dog to have a small amount of spinach every now and then, but regular consumption can lead to serious health problems.
Is sharing the bed with your pets good for them — or you? Experts weigh in
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All mammals are designed to drink milk from their mothers as infants, gradually weaning off as they grow and transition to water and solid foods. After infancy, it’s not uncommon for mammals to experience some level of lactose intolerance when consuming milk products in general and certainly those from other species (different mammals react differently, as will individuals within those groups). So while milk is not technically poisonous for dogs; it’s worth keeping it on their “do not feed” list. Some dogs are OK with it, others experience extreme discomfort in addition to potential health problems, especially among certain breeds.
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All mammals are designed to drink milk from their mothers as infants, gradually weaning off as they grow and transition to water and solid foods. After infancy, it’s not uncommon for mammals to experience some level of lactose intolerance when consuming milk products in general and certainly those from other species (different mammals react differently, as will individuals within those groups). So while milk is not technically poisonous for dogs; it’s worth keeping it on their “do not feed” list. Some dogs are OK with it, others experience extreme discomfort in addition to potential health problems, especially among certain breeds.
Is sharing the bed with your pets good for them — or you? Experts weigh in
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Xylitol is a sugar alternative found in human foods such as candy, chewing gum, and many baked sweets. It’s extremely toxic to dogs, causing rapid insulin release that can put them in a coma within 15 to 20 minutes. Veterinarians may advise feeding your dog syrup or honey on the way to the emergency clinic to boost their blood sugar during the drive. However, you should only do this if you receive instructions to do so.
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Xylitol is a sugar alternative found in human foods such as candy, chewing gum, and many baked sweets. It’s extremely toxic to dogs, causing rapid insulin release that can put them in a coma within 15 to 20 minutes. Veterinarians may advise feeding your dog syrup or honey on the way to the emergency clinic to boost their blood sugar during the drive. However, you should only do this if you receive instructions to do so.
Is sharing the bed with your pets good for them — or you? Experts weigh in
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While the types of mushrooms you purchase in the grocery store are typically safe for dogs, wild mushrooms growing in your yard or out in nature can be toxic. If you have mushrooms around your house, make sure to pull them up regularly. If you catch your dog trying to eat them in the wilderness, stop them immediately.
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While the types of mushrooms you purchase in the grocery store are typically safe for dogs, wild mushrooms growing in your yard or out in nature can be toxic. If you have mushrooms around your house, make sure to pull them up regularly. If you catch your dog trying to eat them in the wilderness, stop them immediately.
Is sharing the bed with your pets good for them — or you? Experts weigh in
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Vitamins containing iron can be toxic for dogs, particularly prenatal supplements, which tend to have higher amounts than standard vitamins. That’s because dogs don’t have a way of excreting excess iron, causing buildups up in the body. In addition to vitamins, cases of iron toxicity can also come from dogs eating oxygen absorbers (those small silica packets found in things like beef jerky).
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Vitamins containing iron can be toxic for dogs, particularly prenatal supplements, which tend to have higher amounts than standard vitamins. That’s because dogs don’t have a way of excreting excess iron, causing buildups up in the body. In addition to vitamins, cases of iron toxicity can also come from dogs eating oxygen absorbers (those small silica packets found in things like beef jerky).
Is sharing the bed with your pets good for them — or you? Experts weigh in
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Although the flesh of apples is not toxic, the seeds can be poisonous due to the presence of a compound called amygdalin. They have to be consumed in large quantities and they must be chewed to be toxic, so a few seeds are unlikely to kill your dog. However, if you plan to feed your dog apples, veterinarians recommend seeding and coring them first.
Although the flesh of apples is not toxic, the seeds can be poisonous due to the presence of a compound called amygdalin. They have to be consumed in large quantities and they must be chewed to be toxic, so a few seeds are unlikely to kill your dog. However, if you plan to feed your dog apples, veterinarians recommend seeding and coring them first.
Is sharing the bed with your pets good for them — or you? Experts weigh in
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Tobacco isn’t technically a food, but it’s certainly something that humans ingest that can be extremely lethal to your pooch. If you’re a smoker, it’s important to always keep cigarettes out of reach of dogs, especially if your pup is prone to chewing on random objects. The same goes for e-cigarettes, liquid nicotine, chewing tobacco, nicotine inhalers, and cigars, all of which are common sources of tobacco poisoning.
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Tobacco isn’t technically a food, but it’s certainly something that humans ingest that can be extremely lethal to your pooch. If you’re a smoker, it’s important to always keep cigarettes out of reach of dogs, especially if your pup is prone to chewing on random objects. The same goes for e-cigarettes, liquid nicotine, chewing tobacco, nicotine inhalers, and cigars, all of which are common sources of tobacco poisoning.
Is sharing the bed with your pets good for them — or you? Experts weigh in
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Regular walnuts (often called English walnuts) are safe for dogs to eat, but the less common black walnut can be toxic. These specialty nuts are used in desserts and baked goods, although poisoning usually occurs in nature when dogs find them on the ground or eat bark from the tree. In fact, the black walnut ranks among the five most poisonous trees to large animals.
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Regular walnuts (often called English walnuts) are safe for dogs to eat, but the less common black walnut can be toxic. These specialty nuts are used in desserts and baked goods, although poisoning usually occurs in nature when dogs find them on the ground or eat bark from the tree. In fact, the black walnut ranks among the five most poisonous trees to large animals.
Is sharing the bed with your pets good for them — or you? Experts weigh in
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Nutmeg contains a compound called myristicin which, when ingested in large quantities, can lead to rapid heart rate, hallucinations, and seizures in dogs, according to Dr. Stephanie Liff, co-owner of Pure Paws Veterinary Care of Hell’s Kitchen. Baked goods or other recipes containing small amounts of the spice do not pose a threat; however, if your dog chews on the spice container or gets into the small packets from the bulk spice aisle, it could potentially be very serious.
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Nutmeg contains a compound called myristicin which, when ingested in large quantities, can lead to rapid heart rate, hallucinations, and seizures in dogs, according to Dr. Stephanie Liff, co-owner of Pure Paws Veterinary Care of Hell’s Kitchen. Baked goods or other recipes containing small amounts of the spice do not pose a threat; however, if your dog chews on the spice container or gets into the small packets from the bulk spice aisle, it could potentially be very serious.
Is sharing the bed with your pets good for them — or you? Experts weigh in
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Although the peach flesh itself is fine for dogs to eat, the pits of peaches contain amygdalin, the same substance found in apple seeds—which releases cyanide. Your pup would have to consume several peach pits to get sick; however, this isn’t beyond the realm of possibility if you have a dog who gets into everything. For this reason, it’s best to keep peaches out of dogs’ reach. In addition to the cyanide issue, the pits pose a choking hazard.
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Although the peach flesh itself is fine for dogs to eat, the pits of peaches contain amygdalin, the same substance found in apple seeds—which releases cyanide. Your pup would have to consume several peach pits to get sick; however, this isn’t beyond the realm of possibility if you have a dog who gets into everything. For this reason, it’s best to keep peaches out of dogs’ reach. In addition to the cyanide issue, the pits pose a choking hazard.
Is sharing the bed with your pets good for them — or you? Experts weigh in
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This one is tricky because even though true currants are not toxic, many currants sold in the United States (sometimes called Zante currants) are actually just tiny raisins made from Corinth grapes. These cause the same issues with toxicity that regular grapes and raisins do, potentially leading to kidney failure.
This one is tricky because even though true currants are not toxic, many currants sold in the United States (sometimes called Zante currants) are actually just tiny raisins made from Corinth grapes. These cause the same issues with toxicity that regular grapes and raisins do, potentially leading to kidney failure.
Is sharing the bed with your pets good for them — or you? Experts weigh in
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Although small amounts are not likely to kill most dogs, the potential for severe poisoning and other health issues exists. Alcohol can cause significant drops in blood pressure, body temperature, and blood sugar, which can lead to seizures and even respiratory failure in worst-case scenarios.
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Although small amounts are not likely to kill most dogs, the potential for severe poisoning and other health issues exists. Alcohol can cause significant drops in blood pressure, body temperature, and blood sugar, which can lead to seizures and even respiratory failure in worst-case scenarios.
Is sharing the bed with your pets good for them — or you? Experts weigh in
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Leeks contain thiosulfate, the same compound in the allium family that makes garlic unsafe for dogs. In fact, Live Science lists alliums among the seven foods that cause the most pet deaths.
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Leeks contain thiosulfate, the same compound in the allium family that makes garlic unsafe for dogs. In fact, Live Science lists alliums among the seven foods that cause the most pet deaths.
Is sharing the bed with your pets good for them — or you? Experts weigh in
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Mustard is not likely to be lethal to dogs in small doses; however, it can be toxic in higher amounts and, generally speaking, it’s not a good thing for your dog to consume. In fact, due to mustard’s mildly toxic nature, it is often something that’s suggested by vets as a way to induce vomiting. The same goes for mustard seeds, which are often used in cooking.
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Mustard is not likely to be lethal to dogs in small doses; however, it can be toxic in higher amounts and, generally speaking, it’s not a good thing for your dog to consume. In fact, due to mustard’s mildly toxic nature, it is often something that’s suggested by vets as a way to induce vomiting. The same goes for mustard seeds, which are often used in cooking.
Is sharing the bed with your pets good for them — or you? Experts weigh in
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Although it might seem harmless to treat your pup to the fat you’ve trimmed off meat, veterinarians advise against it. High-fat foods and raw fats can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and even pancreatitis or blood infections.
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Although it might seem harmless to treat your pup to the fat you’ve trimmed off meat, veterinarians advise against it. High-fat foods and raw fats can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and even pancreatitis or blood infections.
Is sharing the bed with your pets good for them — or you? Experts weigh in
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Caffeine is toxic for dogs and, although one or two sips won’t kill them, it doesn’t take a huge amount to cause serious consequences. Coffee grounds and other sources of condensed caffeine can also pose serious threats.
Caffeine is toxic for dogs and, although one or two sips won’t kill them, it doesn’t take a huge amount to cause serious consequences. Coffee grounds and other sources of condensed caffeine can also pose serious threats.
Is sharing the bed with your pets good for them — or you? Experts weigh in
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Similarly to peaches and apples, cherries contain cyanide-releasing amygdalin in their pits, which is toxic to dogs. Cherries can be even more dangerous than peaches because the pits are much smaller, making dogs more likely to eat them. In addition to the toxic pits, cherry flesh can make their stomach upset.
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Similarly to peaches and apples, cherries contain cyanide-releasing amygdalin in their pits, which is toxic to dogs. Cherries can be even more dangerous than peaches because the pits are much smaller, making dogs more likely to eat them. In addition to the toxic pits, cherry flesh can make their stomach upset.
Is sharing the bed with your pets good for them — or you? Experts weigh in
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Onions are another example of food in the allium family that can be poisonous to dogs due to the thiosulfate it contains. Like with other alliums, certain dog breeds are more vulnerable, and their size makes a huge difference.
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Onions are another example of food in the allium family that can be poisonous to dogs due to the thiosulfate it contains. Like with other alliums, certain dog breeds are more vulnerable, and their size makes a huge difference.
Is sharing the bed with your pets good for them — or you? Experts weigh in
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Once tomatoes are red and ripe, they are generally safe for dogs, as long as the stem is completely removed. However, green tomatoes or not fully ripe red tomatoes can be toxic for dogs. This is because of a substance called solanine found in the stems and leaves. If you have a garden where tomatoes grow, it is best to keep your dogs out so they don’t chew on the green fruits or their vines.
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Once tomatoes are red and ripe, they are generally safe for dogs, as long as the stem is completely removed. However, green tomatoes or not fully ripe red tomatoes can be toxic for dogs. This is because of a substance called solanine found in the stems and leaves. If you have a garden where tomatoes grow, it is best to keep your dogs out so they don’t chew on the green fruits or their vines.
Is sharing the bed with your pets good for them — or you? Experts weigh in
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Chives are yet another food in the allium family which, like garlic, leeks, and onions, can be poisonous to dogs in large amounts. “Toxic doses of chives can cause damage to the red blood cells (making them more likely to rupture) leading to anemia,” Pet Poison Helpline explains. Additionally, the hotline warns that symptoms can be delayed, sometimes not appearing for several days.
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Chives are yet another food in the allium family which, like garlic, leeks, and onions, can be poisonous to dogs in large amounts. “Toxic doses of chives can cause damage to the red blood cells (making them more likely to rupture) leading to anemia,” Pet Poison Helpline explains. Additionally, the hotline warns that symptoms can be delayed, sometimes not appearing for several days.
Is sharing the bed with your pets good for them — or you? Experts weigh in
Canva
Potatoes are examples of another food where solanine is the culprit for toxicity. The compound blocks a chemical called acetylcholine, which dogs need to transmit nerve impulses. The result can be issues with their nervous systems and intestinal tracts. Like with tomatoes, the risk occurs when potatoes are green or unripe, and in the green sprouts, or eyes, that grow on them.
Potatoes are examples of another food where solanine is the culprit for toxicity. The compound blocks a chemical called acetylcholine, which dogs need to transmit nerve impulses. The result can be issues with their nervous systems and intestinal tracts. Like with tomatoes, the risk occurs when potatoes are green or unripe, and in the green sprouts, or eyes, that grow on them.
Is sharing the bed with your pets good for them — or you? Experts weigh in
CNN
"Hi, I'm Lynx (center and right), a 2-year-old Siberian. I must sleep with one of my humans, so I can walk or sit on them or try to smell their breath. I also enjoy draping my 2-foot-long body across their necks at about 3 a.m. My sister Luna (left) likes to sit on feet and bite them during the night."
CNN
"Hi, I'm Lynx (center and right), a 2-year-old Siberian. I must sleep with one of my humans, so I can walk or sit on them or try to smell their breath. I also enjoy draping my 2-foot-long body across their necks at about 3 a.m. My sister Luna (left) likes to sit on feet and bite them during the night."
Is sharing the bed with your pets good for them — or you? Experts weigh in
CNN
"Hi, I'm Norbert. I'm almost 2 years old. I'm a pot-bellied pig, but I think I'm a person, so I sleep on the bed with the other humans. I have my own Instagram, too!"
CNN
"Hi, I'm Norbert. I'm almost 2 years old. I'm a pot-bellied pig, but I think I'm a person, so I sleep on the bed with the other humans. I have my own Instagram, too!"
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