WASHINGTON — How long would you keep a parrot that starts squawking every morning at 6?
Yes, a parrot was one cause of insomnia doctors identified for a patient seeking help at the Mayo Clinic Center for Sleep Medicine in Phoenix.
Studies have found pets can be disruptive to their owners’ sleep and can be a hidden cause of insomnia, according to Medscape Medical News.
Fifty seven percent of 148 pet owners in one survey reported sleeping with their dogs or cats. One out of three reported their furry friends woke them up at least once every night.
Ten percent of pet owners surveyed said they were annoyed that pets sometimes disrupt their sleep by snoring, whimpering, wandering or needing to go outside.
Of pet owners who shared their beds or bedrooms with animals, a recent survey found 58 percent are sleeping with dogs and 42 percent sleep with cats.
