It may look really cute, but it's a bad idea.
It's not as cute as the puppy in the picture above. It could be a nasty bacteria that settles in your brain.
Meningitis, is an inflammation of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. It's pretty awful if you get it.
The most common causes of meningitis are viral infections that usually get better without treatment. However, bacterial meningitis infections are extremely serious, and may result in death or brain damage, even if treated.
And then there is ring worm. It's not really deadly.....unless you let it get out of control. I will spare you the graphic pictures I saw while downloading these. These are NOT the worse case scenario.
And remember the bubonic plague? The "Black Death". Bubonic plague is not usually spread from person to person. Small rodents, such as rats, mice and squirrels, carry the infection. Fleas that live on these animals act as "vectors" and carry the infection from the rodent to humans. People may get exposed to the bacteria from flea bites or from direct contact with an infected animal.
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Picture of bubonic plague bacteria from an infected lymph node, or bubo. Photo courtesy of the CDC |
Thank you for that, I have been trying to get the dogs out of the bed forever..... Now I have a good reason!
ReplyDeleteI used to let my yellow lab sleep up in the bed with me once my husband got up. But as she aged, she couldn't get up there anymore and I didn't allow any of the others to do so either. One space that is truly ours in this house... :)
ReplyDeleteFlash and Ginger, my two old setters, slept with us most of their lives. If you were the last one to bed you had to fight for your space. Flash would usually get up and go to her own bed but Ginger was a real bed hog and always got the upper hand. As they got older, they couldn't get up in the bed anymore and, in the end, couldn't get up the stairs, which ended that. Erin, our new setter prefers her own bed and we all get a good night's sleep. Though I wouldn't trade those days for anything, your better off not letting this get started.
ReplyDeleteOne thing you left out was the little darlings bring dog and deer ticks to bed with them and you would wake up with one crawling up your arm or neck. Yuck!
Art, I too have started habits which at the time seem to be a good idea, only to turn out to be a really bad idea. I am a quick learner though! (:
ReplyDeleteI did mention fleas and the nasty bubonic plague they can bring, but you are right about those ticks. They are very nasty and also carry numerous diseases. Thank you for bringing this up!
I had an aunt who died from spinal meningitis. At the time she was quarantined in her house. That was in the 1940s. I suppose they have ways to treat it today.
ReplyDeleteSharon, You're welcome!
ReplyDeleteTexwis, Another good point, don't start the habit.
Honest Abe, Sorry to hear that about your aunt. Modern medicine can sure do a lot, but bacterial meningitis is very dangerous. Not always curable. Even with meds and treatment, survival isn't guaranteed.
This is a good post! I never let the dogs on the other furniture either - it's too hard to keep things clean.
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