Sleep with your pet? You could be sharing germs

One case involved a 48-year-old man and his wife who came down with life-threatening recurrent methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections over and over again until their dog was finally tested and found to be the carrier of the antibiotic-resistant bacteria. "The couple reported that the dog routinely slept in their bed and frequently licked their faces," the researchers wrote.

About one in five dog owners said in a 2005 survey conducted by the American Kennel Club that their dog shares their bed with them -- and women were slightly more likely than men to embrace the practice. Another 16 percent reported that their dogs crept into their beds at least once in a while.

When it comes to cats, bed-sharing is even more common: a full 62 percent of cat owners said their felines slept with them, while another 16 percent said their cats leapt into bed with their kids.

While the likelihood of owners getting infected from their pets remains pretty small, the study authors recommend being on the safe side: Keep your bed free of pets -- especially if you have a condition that lowers your immune system. And never allow young children to sleep with animals. If your pet lick an open wound, immediately wash it with soap and water.

Other precautions to take: Keep your pet free of skin parasites (especially fleas), routinely dewormed, and regularly examined by a veterinarian.