The wet, warm feeling of a dog licking your face is either something you love or hate. While some of us try to discourage the behavior, many of us actively seek out this kind of interaction with our dogs (sometimes to the horror of onlookers). Many dog lovers give licking us a lot of significance, especially if we’re the kind who enjoy it. We say our dogs are kissing us and we interpret that as a sign of affection, but are dog kisses really a sign of affection, or are they just after the leftovers we forgot to wipe off our chins?
There are many reasons why dogs lick people’s hands, feet, or faces, says certified professional dog trainer and chair of The Association of Professional Dog Trainers Nick Hof, CPDT-KA, CBCC-KA, KPA-CTP, CSAT. Your dog may be trying to show you affection, but it could also be that they enjoy your flavor or that they are having trouble controlling their compulsive behavior.
Your dog may be licking you if you are wearing sweet-smelling lotion or arrive home sweaty because you smell good. My own dogs are known to be extremely eager to lick my hands after I’ve eaten something salty or greasy, such as potato chips. Dog owners shouldn’t be alarmed if their dogs find them to be delectable, according to Hof, because they probably won’t bite you!
While dog kisses are typically nothing to worry about, Hof cautions that there are instances when the kissing may be a sign of something else happening with your dog. If the licking appears to be compulsive, excessive, or self-destructive; if it is challenging to redirect your dog, or if they are harming themselves, you should consult with your veterinarian for help resolving this issue, he advises. ”.
Bad dog! A report from the Centers for Disease Control has found that pets can infect their owners with a host of dangerous ailments, including meningitis and the plague
If youre a pet owner, you might think there is nothing better than snuggling up with your dog on a cold night or being greeted with a slobbery kiss. But a new report from the Centers for Disease Control warns that getting too close to your dog or cat can increase your risk of a dangerous infection. Here, a brief guide:
Several “unlikely” conditions have been brought on by sleeping with, kissing, or being licked by a pet, according to a study published in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases of the Centers for Disease Control. There are stories of a 30-year-old woman getting strep throat from her dogs repeatedly, a 40-something man getting Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) from his dog repeatedly, nearly two dozen cases of “cat-associated” plague, and numerous babies getting meningitis from dog licks. Many people also got hookworms and roundworms from their pets. According to Katie Moisse at ABC News, the findings “might make you think twice about cuddling up next to your dog tonight.”
How common is this? While pet lovers should be aware of the potential for infection, its rare. “Its difficult to interpret this report without an idea of how many millions of people had a dog lick their ear and didnt get an infection,” says Dr. William Karesh, a veterinarian and the EVP of health and policy at EcoHealth Alliance. Another veterinarian, Dr. Rod Ferguson, also says there just are not a lot of instances of pet-to-human transmission. “Theres not many things that a dog is going to give people,” he says. “People usually give to people. Dogs usually give to dogs.”
How concerned should pet owners be? Not very. Those with weakened immune systems and young children should exercise caution, but “for the majority of people in the U S. Given that 450 people die each year from falling out of bed, Karesh asserts that sleeping in a bed is probably riskier than sleeping with a pet.
How many people share their beds with their dogs anyway? Pet ownership has been on the rise for decades. The 2009-2010 National Pet Owners Survey found that 45.6 million American households owned a dog, and 38.2 million owned a cat. And, according to ABC News, other surveys suggest that 50 percent of dog owners and 75 percent of cat owners sleep with their pets.
What actions can pet owners take to lower the risk of illness? Ferguson advises exercising caution and keeping your pet in good health, among other things, such as preventing your dog from licking your face. “Keep your animal as clean and in good health as you can, so it can live in the house in the same way that you do.” ” Dr. According to Karesh, it’s critical to maintain your pet’s vaccination schedule and parasite control. And Nikki Moustaki, a New Yorker who contracted strep throat repeatedly from her dogs, found relief when she began wiping their paws with baby wipes after each walk, as advised by her doctor.
Fact #2: Dog Kisses Indicate Social Status
According to Khuly, dogs will kiss each other to show that they, the kissers, are “lower” than the kiss recipients.
She adds that canine-human relationships mirror canine-canine relationships in this way (and other ways, too) and that “these social cues are important for dogs in a pack setting to help establish a solid social structure with minimum strife.”
The Week contest: Lustful ghost
FAQ
What happens if you kiss your dog too much?
Yes, your dog has bacteria in their mouth. The bacteria Pastuerella, which is found in the mouths of cats and dogs, can sometimes cause more serious infections of the skin and lymph nodes. Cat-scratch fever, a serious skin and lymph node infection, can be brought on by Bartonella henselae.
Do dogs like when you kiss a lot?
In actuality, some dogs just dislike being kissed. However, dogs that have been taught to tolerate kisses may eventually enjoy them.
Is kissing your dog bad for your health?
The reason kisses from your dog are dangerous is that their mouth is full of bacteria, parasites, yeasts, and viruses that humans are susceptible to. Certain of them can even spread from your dog’s mouth to yours, giving you diseases like salmonella, campylobacter, and E coli.
Is too much cuddling bad for dogs?
Dogs, like people, are social animals who dislike being by themselves. Keeping them company all the time could be problematic because they might become overly reliant on you. At its worst, a dog who is overly reliant on human companionship may experience separation anxiety.