Allowing your pet to “kiss” you may seem like a harmless display of affection, but it could be harmful or even fatal.
Most of the time it doesn’t matter – until it does. Who doesn’t allow their dog to give them a slobbery “kiss”? Despite being a member of your family, your dog’s mouth bacteria are different from those in yours. Dogs spend half their lives with their noses in unsanitary places or hovering over dog droppings, so their muzzles are full of bacteria, viruses, and germs of every kind, according to John Oxford, emeritus professor of virology and bacteriology at Queen Mary University of London, who recently spoke to the Hippocratic Post.
We largely avoid getting sick despite the fact that these bugs are unknown to our immune systems. However, there are zoonotic bacteria in the mouths of dogs (and cats) that can infect humans with diseases. They include clostridium, E coli and campylobacter, which cause gastroenteritis. 42 children under the age of four in France were diagnosed with meningitis between 2001 and 2011 after being exposed to the normal mouth bacteria found in dogs. Most of the newborn babies were infected by dogs or cats licking them, making up nearly half of the total population. Four died. Reduced contact between infants and pets is recommended by the paper’s authors.
The thin mucous membrane lining our mouths, noses, and eyes is no match for canine bacteria, according to a 1989 letter published in the Canadian Vet Journal, which also suggested that generally there is no harm from kissing your dog. Dogs have been known to transmit Haemophilus aphrophilus to people, which can lead to heart disease, brain abscesses, and — grossest of all — tapeworm infection (Dipylidium caninum). These cases usually involve kids who swallow infected flea fragments after being licked by a dog.
The terrifying story of a 70-year-old woman who was found slumped in her chair and was on the verge of death from septicemia was published in a BMJ case report this year. The cause? Capnocytophaga canimorsus, a bacterium from her dog. There was no sign of bites or scratches, so the bacteria most likely entered through a tender lick.
However, getting an infection from a dog lick is uncommon. The University of California, Davis’ Bruno Chomel, a professor of population health and reproduction in veterinary medicine, says: “Overall, getting licked on the face and over any kind of wound is not great. Immunocompromised individuals, the elderly, and children should avoid such exposure. When asked how much of a risk it actually poses, he cites a study published in the Lancet about a man who had meningitis after his dog licked his perforated ear drum. “Like everything,” he says, “it hurts when it happens. Therefore, it may be best to limit licking to the area below the neck, unbroken skin, and air kisses.
‘NOT REALLY UNHYGIENIC’, SAYS AN EXPERT Is dog licking your face unhygienic?(Pixabay)
“While it may appear to be unhygienic, that is not the case. It is true that dogs lick themselves and engage in various forms of communication with one another. Their affectionate licks are completely safe for human skin. If you absolutely detest them licking you, they understand that and will make every effort to respect your request not to be licked. However, they too can lose control and will occasionally forget this out of excitement and may still lick you. This does not imply that they are not considering your preferences; rather, it simply indicates that they love you too much and are unable to communicate their feelings to you, says Dr. Shantanu Kalambi, Chief Veterinarian, Supertails.
Why Do Dogs Lick Your Face?
The habit of adult dogs’ mouths being licked by wolf puppies to induce the regurgitation of partially digested food led to the development of the common dog face-licking behavior. Puppies make the transition from nursing on their mother’s milk to eating partially digested food to eating more substantial food in this manner.
It’s customary for dogs to lick humans or other dogs’ faces. A dog may lick as a sign of appeasement to show that it is being treated with respect. Additionally, it could be a request for food, more social interaction, a sign of affection, or a request for attention.
A dog may lick its face or other body parts while being groomed. Your dog might lick your face, the face of another dog in the house, or other body parts. Your dog may lick the nearest body part to your face, such as your hand, arm, or leg, if he can’t get to your face. The behavior of licking can occasionally be interpreted as an expression of love.
Some dogs may try to lick a complete stranger’s face. They may be trying to placate the stranger so that they won’t do anything dangerous or threatening to the dog, which would explain why they do that. Children’s faces may be licked by dogs as a sign of affection, to appease them, or simply to remove food residue.
First of all, a dog’s mouth is not cleaner than a human’s mouth — that’s a myth.
Although you may have heard at some point in your life that dogs have cleaner mouths than people, this isn’t actually the case. And its like comparing apples to oranges. Reynolds tells BuzzFeed Health that although bacteria counts typically tend to be similar, the types of bacteria are very different. To maintain balance, both humans and dogs have a specific normal flora of bacterial species in their mouths.
Dogs, on the other hand, rarely practice dental hygiene unless their owner assists them, whereas humans generally do. Reynolds claims that dogs have evolved to make up for the lack of dental care, but that’s not enough. Reynolds explains why gum disease, tooth decay, and bad breath are so prevalent in older dogs. Not to mention, dogs consume a lot of harmful pathogens from their surroundings. They enjoy getting into filthy things, such as the trash, the poop of other animals, dead birds, and dirty puddles. the list goes on. According to Reynolds, dogs’ mouths are not generally cleaner from a health standpoint.
FAQ
What happens if a dog licks your face?
“There will be very little absorption through the skin when dog saliva touches intact human skin, especially in a healthy person, so it is extremely unlikely to cause any problems,” Dr. Kaplan wrote in an email.
Why you shouldn’t let your dog lick your face?
Dog saliva poses no health threat to healthy children or adults with intact skin. However, letting your dog lick an open wound on your skin is not healthy. They might keep the wound moist and open with their saliva, which would encourage the growth of bacteria and possibly cause a skin infection.
Is it OK to let dogs lick you?
In a word, no. Children and babies’ immune systems are still developing, so any viruses or bacteria in your dog’s mouth are more likely to make them sick. But dog safety is the main justification for discouraging licking.
Is it good to let dogs lick your face?
To reduce the risk of infections, experts advise against letting pets lick their owners’ mouths, noses, or eyes. The conclusion is to allow your pet to lick you, but only after washing your hands and face, and not near your mouth or nose.