Nearly half of all British dog and cat lovers sleep with their pets despite hygiene concerns, a new survey has found.
Nearly one in five (18 per cent) of pet lovers also let their pooch or moggy eat from their family’s plates.
A third of dog or pet owners (32 per cent) admit to regularly finding animal hairs in their food.
Shockingly a third of Brits (30.5 per cent) of animal lovers never wash or clean their pets with around 25 per cent not washing their food and waters bowls regularly.
The disturbing hygiene habits of Britain pet lovers follows a survey of 2,000 dog and cat owners in the UK.
It shows that that despite highly publicised concerns over the dangers that pet bugs can pose to humans, many pet lovers are not taking basic steps to protect themselves.
The survey, commissioned by leading pet insurer Animal Friends, revealed that only 30 per cent follow recommendations to wash their pet bed or basket every two weeks.
Fleas can live within pet bedding as well as soft furnishings used by the whole family, posing a risk to the entire household’s health.
Pets can carry and spread stomach bugs like salmonella, and can infect us with parasites, fungal infections, tapeworm, roundworm and some superbugs.
The US-based Centers for Disease Control has previously warned of the dangers in a report.
Bruno Chomel, a professor at the University of California School of Veterinary Medicine, warned that after sleeping with companion animals, people can acquire a variety of animal diseases.
Westley Pearson, Managing Director from Animalfriends.co.uk said: “Many people will only remember to wash their pet’s bedding if it’s visibly dirty or smells, however as pointed out in our survey, many pet owners get used to the smell of their animals.
“It’s advisable to wash your pet’s beds as often as you change your own bedding.
“As for your pet’s food bowls, these should be washed daily to keep the germs at bay to protect both you and your pet. You wouldn’t eat your dinner on a dirty plate, so why should your dog?”
The survey also found that pet lovers in Chelmsford were the most unhygienic with a whopping 46 per cent of people never washing their pet.
According to the poll, women are more likely to share a bed with their pet, but they are surprisingly more likely not to wash their pet compared to men.
Britain's dirty pet owners revealed in poll
- 30.4% of Brits wash their dog or cat bed less than the recommended amount
- 2.68% never wash their dog or cat bed
- 54.6% of Brits wash their dog or cat less than once a month
- 30.5% of Brits never wash their dog or cat
- 24.4% only wash pet food bowl once a week or less
- 25.3% only wash pet’s water bowl once a week or less
- 43.6% share a bed with their dog or cat
- Average Brit spends £6.91 each month on cleaning products for their pet
- 18% feed their pet using plates typically used by the family
- 32.6% find pet hair in the food at least once a week
- 12% admitted that someone has commented that their house smelled like dog.
- Women more likely to never wash their pet than men (33.7% v 26.6%)
- 47% of women share a bed with their pet, compared to 39% of men
- 13% of people from Wrexham never clean their pet's bed
- 46% of people from Chelmsford never wash their pet