ATLANTA (CNN) -
According to the Humane Society of the United States, there are approximately 78 million dogs and 86 million cats owned by Americans.
Many owners claim to sleep with their pets.
Health reporter Susan Hendricks spoke to experts to find out if sleeping with your pet is healthy.
Doctors say although they can keep you warm at night, sleeping with cats and dogs can affect your sex life, cause allergies, or put you in danger of certain diseases.
Sleeping with a pet can also interrupt your sleep patterns said Dr. Barry Dicicco from Pulmonary and Critical Care Specialists of Northern Virginia.
"We call that sleep fragmentation and you tend to be less rested, tend to be less alert, your ability to concentrate is diminished and your memory may be impaired, said Dr. Dicicco.
We want to know what you think about sleeping with pets. Share with us on Facebook.
Copyright 2012 WGCL-TV (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved. CNN contributed to this report.
