Pets Are Supposed To Be Good For Your Health, But When Aren’t They?

The internet and the medical profession are besotted with the idea that pets are good for people’s health. And on a population level, they’re right. Having a companion like a dog or a cat can make a lot of people less lonely and more active. 

But pets aren’t always good news for your health. In fact, sometimes, they can be downright harmful. 

Here’s everything you need to know: 

Pets Can Cause Allergies To Flare Up

One issue is that pets can cause allergies to flare up. Dander and hairs from dogs and cats can create issues for some people. 

If you find yourself with a new animal in your home and you’re sneezing, wheezing, and coughing, your furry friend could be the culprit. According to studies, around 20% of people have some sort of immune response to pets simply because they are triggering their immune system. Furthermore, if you keep trying to struggle through, it can sometimes make the underlying symptoms worse. 

Bites And Scratches

Pets can also bite and scratch you, which can lead to additional health problems. These can often end up as being quite serious, leading to general infections and swelling. 

For example, cat scratches can infect you with Bartonella, a type of fever. And dog bites can lead to all sorts of problems, like MRSA and rabies. 

As such, you may want to reconsider if the risk is worth it. Yes, these animals are tame, but they can easily make mistakes. 

Parasites And Zoonotic Diseases

Then, there are issues with parasites and zoonotic diseases. These aren’t your pets themselves but the microbes and fungi they carry along with them. 

The most common are things like fleas, ticks, and worms. Ideally, you want to avoid these in your system. It’s also possible to get toxoplasmosis from pets, something that around 14% of adult Americans are believed to have exposure to at some point in their lives. 

These conditions will usually resolve with a round of medications, but they can be dangerous for pregnant women. 

Damage To Health Devices

Pets can also damage health devices. As you explore this further, you soon discover that it is a bigger issue than many people realise. 

For example, dogs will often swallow hearing aids and monitoring equipment, and it is impossible to reuse once it comes out of the other end. They can also chew through wires and drip lines, again, impeding health. 

While there are ways to prevent this from happening, it’s a constant worry. Animals are unpredictable. 

Sleep Disruption

One of the most annoying aspects of owning a pet is how they can interrupt your sleep. While a dog in your bed is cozy, they are often more active than humans in the night, which can disturb you. Studies show that around a fifth of pet owners experience some sort of disturbance when their dog is with them at night, which is quite high. 
So there you have it: some of the times when pets aren’t so good for your health.