The doctor talked about the benefits of sleeping with pets

Dogs and cats have long ceased to be just pets — for most people they become full-fledged family members. Increasingly, animals are allowed not only to stay in the bedroom, but also to share the bed with the owner. On September 15, ORMATEK experts and internist Andrey Kuzmichev told Izvestia about how safe such proximity is.

"Sleeping together is often perceived as a source of comfort and a sense of security. The presence of an animal helps to relax, fall asleep faster and reduce anxiety levels. Tactile contact normalizes blood pressure and heart rate, strengthens the immune system. Children who communicate with pets from the first days of life are less likely to suffer from allergies," said the specialist.

Psychologists and experts recommend contact with animals for people with depression, anxiety disorders, or autism, as it promotes the production of oxytocin, the hormone of attachment, and reduces stress levels.

Nevertheless, there are times when sleeping with an animal together may not be so useful. For people with allergies or respiratory diseases such as asthma, the animal's fur and skin particles can worsen the condition. It is also worth considering that animals get up at night, can snore or make noise, which for some people with light sleep turns into a problem of chronic lack of sleep.

"For sleeping together to be beneficial, it is important to create the right conditions. Animals and people move in their sleep, so the bed should be spacious enough. The quality of bedding is also important: they should be easy to care for, hypoallergenic and safe. It is better to choose mattresses and blankets with modern synthetic fillers that do not accumulate dust and wool," says Sergey Istomin, brand Manager at ORMATEK.

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On September 5, cynologist Vladimir Golubev told how not to make typical mistakes when training a dog. He explained that being strict and dominating an animal is an outdated and harmful approach. The relationship with a pet is not based on the principle of "leader and subordinate", but rather as "parent and child".

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