Mary Allen
For some dog owners, this is completely normal, for others it is okay to forbid the dog to lick the face. In fact, some dangerous pathogens can be transmitted. You can find out what consequences canine kisses can have here.
How do you show your dog your love? Maybe boldly kissing his nose? Some allowed their dogs to lick their lips at least once. One thing is for sure: you will not be left alone with such expressions of love.
A recent U.S. poll even found that 52 percent of surveyed dog owners kiss their dog more often than their partner. And, according to another study, the same number of animals are allowed to lick their faces … Not surprisingly, because, for many owners, dogs are a member of the family.
But is it helpful?
Dog Mouths – Bacteria Throwers
First off, everything is clear: a short doggy kiss is probably not dangerous. It is extremely rare for dog owners to become seriously ill after such a kiss.
However, in theory, you can catch bacteria or other pathogens if you touch your dog’s tongue. And again and again, there are headlines about extreme cases where people lose body parts or even die due to being licked by their pet.
In most cases, people in these cases already have a weakened immune system. Alcoholics or people with chronic respiratory illnesses are also at high risk of developing serious illnesses.
When Dog Kisses are Deadly
But even with healthy dog owners, kissing a beloved dog on rare occasions can be life-threatening. This is facilitated, for example, by the bacteria Capnocytophaga canimorsus, which lives in the mouths of dogs and cats. In 2019, a man in Germany died as a result of infection with this bacterium. And a woman in Ohio had her legs amputated due to an infection.
In both cases, they are believed to have contracted the bacteria through contact with their dogs. It can also be spread from a dog bite.
In the worst case, a bacterial infection leads to infection of the blood, meninges, bone marrow, peritoneum, the lining of the heart, or pneumonia – and this can be fatal. Capnocytophaga canimorsus occurs in 74 percent of all dogs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Therefore, if your dog licks you, there is almost always a risk of contact with the bacteria. Veterinarian Dr. According to Karen Becker, in the vast majority of cases, this does not cause any problems.
In addition, dogs can transmit other, less harmful bacteria to us. For example, E. coli, Salmonella, and Campylobacter can all cause gastrointestinal illness. If you want to be safe, keep your dog away from your eyes, nose, mouth, or open wounds with his tongue and wash your licked hands.
Prevent Disease
The fact that dogs love to lick people – sometimes in the face – is easy to explain: for four-legged friends, this is a kind of sign of love, which they also show for each other.
Therefore, you should not completely forbid the dog to lick you. It is best to offer your hands to him and then wash them thoroughly with soap and water.