Watch Out: That Dog in Your Bed Could Kill You

You might even get the plague from your furry friends
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 20, 2011 1:14 PM CST
Updated Jan 23, 2011 6:24 PM CST
Watch Out: That Dog in Your Bed Could Kill You
This is more dangerous than it looks.   (Shutter Stock)

Curling up with your dog or cat at the end of a tough day might not feel so warm and fuzzy after reading this: Allowing your pets to sleep in your bed could actually kill you, according to veterinary scientists. A new study shows that those who sleep with their dogs and cats have a higher chance of contracting parasites or any number of illnesses—including the plague, Aol News reports. Also a no-no, if you want to play it safe: kissing your pets or letting them lick you.

Some disturbing examples: a 9-year-old who got the plague from his cat, a couple who got multiple staph infections from their dog, a woman who got meningitis from kissing her pet’s face, and two people who died after their pets, a cat and dog respectively, licked their open wounds. Why the danger? Fleas are a big reason, as does pets' tendency to not steer clear of feces or to chomp on rodents and birds. Click for more, including ways you can protect yourself.
(More pets stories.)

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