Never sleep with your dogs, this is the rare disease you can catch!

Dog owners have been warned they could be at risk of a nasty disease if they share a bed with their dog. Sleeping with your favorite four-legged friend increases the chance of transferring germs that land on their skin and come from their licking, faeces or fur, an expert has warned. Insects can cause a number of problematic conditions including scabies and even Lyme disease.

A mite expert, Professor Alejandra Perotti, in the school of biological sciences at the University of Reading, said the microscopic parasitic mites that live inside the hair follicles of all dogs "can be harmful to an immunocompromised owner". This can cause a skin infection or affect the respiratory tract, causing an illness.

Prof Perotti told MailOnline:

If a dog owner is immune compromised, or has a weak immune system, even temporarily, then they should not share their bed with a dog.

While there have been "very few documented cases of dog ticks moving onto their owners", Prof Perotti said this is because "the ticks are not properly identified". Demodex canis, the most common dog mite, has only been identified in "a small number of cases" involving humans and can cause mange. Prof. Perotti said:

Ticks, especially here in the UK, are serious vectors of Lyme disease, caused by the borrelia bacteria.

The warning echoes expert advice from bed and mattress retailer Happy Beds as warmer days are just around the corner. "Happy Beds" experts said:

Loose hair on the bed can cause a lot of irritation not only for you as the owner, but also for your pet. This fur can also harbor bugs and germs that can be transferred to you while you sleep.

It is commonly misconstrued that fur is the main cause of these hazards, but it is actually the domestication of animals that can cause serious health problems. This protein is found in the pet's hair, saliva, skin and waste and consists of small particles which are where the danger lies.