Can you let your dog lick your face: the risks

“You kiss him again!” – probably many animal lovers have heard such words. People often allow dogs to lick their faces, drink from the same mug, or eat the same treat together.

However, licking and “kisses” from a four-legged can really be dangerous.

Why you should not “kiss” a dog and what is the threat of your pet’s saliva – The Washington Post and The Conversation told.

Can you let a dog lick your face?

In short, experts categorically not recommended to do this

Human skin is protected by a barrier against bacteria, so if a dog licks it, the risk of infection is small.

But “dog kisses” in the face can be dangerous, especially for those with weakened immunity. The probability of getting sick from licking is low, but it does exist.

• First, in the medical literature are described serious bacterial infections transmitted through dog saliva during biting or licking. For example, the rare but potentially deadly pathogen Capnocytophaga canimorsus.

Capnocytophaga canimorsus is a bacterium found in the mouths of most healthy dogs and cats, part of their normal gum flora. But for people it is dangerous because it causes sepsis.

This pathogen poses a special threat to the elderly, to those who drink a lot of alcohol, and to patients with weakened immunity.

Pasteurella multocida is another bacterium that lives in the oral cavity of predators and can spread through contact with dog saliva. It can cause various complications up to meningitis.

• Another type of bacteria that can be transmitted to us by dogs is antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Today, bacterial resistance to antibiotics is recognized as one of the main health care problems.

Dog saliva may be a potential source of bacteria carrying antibiotic resistance genes. In 2023, a German study with 2,800 participants confirmed that exchanging them between animals and owners is possible.

There were only a few such cases, but still these bacteria can get into the human body. And, probably, no one wants to get into these statistics.

• In addition to those bacteria that are constantly contained in dog saliva, dogs can catch an infection from the outside – to gnaw on a dead pigeon or eat excrement.

• After all, some parasites can be carried in dog saliva and transmitted to humans, as dogs lick themselves after defecating and are often greeted by “sniffing” other dogs’ hindquarters.

You can get infected through dog saliva roundworms, giardia and other intestinal parasites. Here, children are in the greatest risk zone. Although this rarely happens in general, writes The New York Times.

All these risks sound scary, but they are extremely rare, adds infectious disease specialist Sonia Krishnan of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

How not to get infected from dog saliva?

Install limits

Do not let your pet lick his nose, mouth, or eyes, to protect the mucosa, advises Sonia Krishnan. Also do not allow the dog to open wounds, pimples, ulcers etc.

People with weakened immunity, young children, the elderly and pregnant women are at increased risk of contracting zoonotic infections. Representatives of these groups should avoid dog “kisses”.

Take care of cleanliness

The basic advice is to observe hygiene rules, wash hands after contact with animals, and keep a clean home. Experts advise to thoroughly wash your pet, clean its toys, and also take it to the vet on time.

Protect wounds from dog saliva

Dogs really know how to “lick wounds” on their bodies. However, dog saliva is definitely not a “healing salve” for humans. On the contrary, it exposes people to an increased risk of infection.

Pet the dogs

Relationships between people and their pets can be full without “kisses on the lips”. It is better to hug and pet the dog.

Such contact will not only be safer, but also help to calm down, reduce pressure, and just feel a little happier.