Q: I have two small granddogs that came for a visit overnight and never left. Anyway, they sleep in bed with me. Are there any dog germs that I should be concerned about?
A: Dogs and humans have been curled up together for thousands of years, and, to this day, there is no compelling medical reason to untangle them. Just don't kiss them because scientists do say that if bugs pass between species, they are most likely transmitted through saliva.
Dog Lady has an urban dog that sticks his nose into other dogs' derrieres. His little paws pad along on sidewalks, streets and parks smeared with all sorts of gunk. He rapturously rolls in the kind of stuff that would probably send microbiologists screaming for hygienic sanctuary. For 13 years now, the dog climbs in at night and Dog Lady lives to tell. You can get far worse infections from any human you might invite into your bed.
For people with compromised immune systems caused by allergies or HIV, lying down with dogs is discouraged. Conservative doctors of HIV-positive patients often suggest that keeping a dog is not prudent. However, the health benefits of being with a dog may far outweigh even these risks. A recent medical study showed that people who have pets tend to live longer, happier and healthier lives.
If we worried about microbes in everything we did, we'd be paralyzed. If you're really worried about sharing the covers with the granddogs, you should probably consult your primary care doctor and/or veterinarian for the final word.
Q: I want to get a dog, but I don't think I could stand the heartbreak. I watched helplessly as a friend recently put down her 11-year-old dog, Truffle. Truffle was in the advanced stages of bone cancer. A month later, she's still a mess whenever she sees a dog.
Before the Truffle tragedy, I had been seriously considering getting a dog. I had decided to adopt from a shelter. When I saw my friend's extreme grief after Truffle died, I am reconsidering the whole thing. How do I reconcile getting an older dog while knowing I may outlive my pet?
A: Don't be wary of letting a dog into your life. Your instinct to adopt a shelter dog is marvelous and love-affirming. You can't shy away from it just because you fear the natural course of time. No matter whether you outlast your animal or vice versa, both you and your dog will have a better quality of life.
Your friend who lost Truffle has been through an ordeal that we pet lovers know is the greatest sadness of dog guardians — bidding farewell forever. But, as Woody Allen once observed in his classic film "Annie Hall": "The heart is a very resilient muscle." Your friend will eventually recover. Her pet-loving spirit will be elastic enough to allow another animal into her life. The love she had for Truffle will make that possible. Over time, she will learn how to put her late dog's memory into a special chamber of her resilient heart and move on.
Don't be paralyzed by "what if?" Get down to that shelter, adopt a dog and exhale.
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Monica Collins offers advice on dogs, life and love. Her website is www.askdoglady.com. Contact her at askdoglady@gmail.com.
