HEALTH: Watch Out: That Dog in Your Bed Could Kill You!

Curling up with your dog or cat at the end of a tough day might not feel so warm and fuzzy after reading this: Allowing your pets to sleep in your bed could actually kill you, according to veterinary scientists. A new study shows that those who sleep with their dogs and cats have a higher chance of contracting parasites or any number of illnesses—including the plague, Aol News reports. Also a no-no, if you want to play it safe: kissing your pets or letting them lick you.

Some disturbing examples: a 9-year-old who got the plague from his cat, a couple who got multiple staph infections from their dog, a woman who got meningitis from kissing her pet’s face, and two people who died after their pets, a cat and dog respectively, licked their open wounds. Why the danger? Fleas are a big reason, as does pets' tendency to not steer clear of feces or to chomp on rodents and birds.