What Your Dog is *Actually* Bringing to Your Bed At Night

For most of us, our dog was our first “baby”. Climbing in bed to snuggle your pup after a long night at the club turned into your dog laying at your feet when you rock your baby during the night. Here at Deux Skin we don’t deux pet slander, but as it turns out, there’s some things you need to know about your doggo. The fluffy angels are also bacteria-hoarding monsters that bring the grossest of the outside world straight to your pillow.

I know what you’re thinking; “I’ve seen the hair on the sheets, I’m not allergic so it’s no big deal.” But they bring in more than just hair. The bacteria that catches a ride on your furry baby’s paws is actually shocking. Salmonella, Campylobacter, E. Coli, and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA!!!!), have all been found lurking in cotton sheets. Allergens can also stick to your pets fur and get into your bed as well. Unfortunately, this means you could get a stomach virus or eye, skin, or ear infections. All from your dog! Salmonella can give you a stomach virus and MRSA can be a skin infection. Did the cat give me that virus from hell last year? The answer to that is maybe, but probably not. Zoonotic pathogens do not easily cross barriers so humans are mostly unaffected by their bacteria. 

Different bacteria thrive in different areas, though, so this is where the threat to your clear skin lies. When some bacteria mix with the dead skin cells on your pillow, it creates the perfect environment for acne-causing bacteria to thrive. And then your face touches it for 8 hours a night. So, letting your pet sleep with you once won't directly give you a stomach virus, but could cause breakouts. It all depends on what your furry friend is bringing with them.

If this new information hasn’t disgusted you to the point of locking them out, we have some solutions:

Skin tip #1: Washing your sheets and pillow cases more often can help alleviate the bacteria's environment.

Skin tip #2: Get a silk pillowcase. Even if pets aren’t present, this is a good way to keep bacteria from getting in your pores. Silk repels the bacteria, while cotton absorbs everything.

Skin tip #3: Keeping your pet off your pillow will help. They look adorable with their heads on your pillow, but not cute enough to perpetuate breakouts. 

Skin tip #4: Get an air purifier to cleanse the air of bacteria and dander.

Skin tip #5: Weekly (minimum) baths for the pups will help decrease dirt and dander on their skin.