Monika Stuczen, Research Scientist in Microbiology at Dyson says people don’t see the bacteria so don’t see it as a problem.“Many people think that pet hair is the biggest problem as it is the most visible,” says Stuczen. “It is unsurprising that people are unaware of the other particles that may reside on their pets because these particles tend to be microscopic in size.”

A study conducted by Dyson, asked 12,309 people from 11 countries about their pet and bed habits and they discovered that most people aren’t aware of the potential health risks. In fact when they were questioned, very few knew that viruses and dust mite faeces can reside on their pets.

Sleeping with your pets is also a bad idea if you suffer from allergies. Dr. Kunjana Mavunda, a pediatric pulmonologist, says that pet dander (microscopic flecks of skin) can worsen allergies, especially when you sleep in the same bed. “Even if a person has no allergies to pet dander, if they choose to sleep with a pet, it will be prudent to get special protective mattress and pillow covers with zippers that completely cover the mattress and pillow,” says Dr. Mavunda.

What do you think? Has this information changed your mind about sleeping with your pet?