Zoonotic diseases are here to rain on your pet-kissing parade. These illnesses can be transmitted through viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi that pass between animals and humans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). One of the major modes of transmission is coming into contact with the bodily fluids of an infected animal, which in some cases could be a dog or cat. Lovely.
At the end of the day, it’s unlikely that you’ll get really sick from smooching your pet. But if you want to take those slim odds down a few notches, all the experts we spoke to agree that it’s probably better to show your affection in other ways. As Dr. Villamizar-Martinez puts it, “We love our pets, but we need to have some limits.”
Research demonstrates that cats, dogs, and humans share some of the same types of bacteria that cause periodontal (gum) disease. However, there is no scientifically sound evidence showing that contact with pets transmits this bacteria in a way that actually leads to periodontal disease in pet-owners, Dr. Villamizar-Martinez says. It seems like humans may have some defenses against this happening, both built in and not.
Another possible GI infection you can catch from a pet happens due to giardia, a microscopic intestinal parasite that can cause diarrhea, stomach pain, nausea, gas, and vomiting in cats, dogs, and humans, according to the CDC. It is spread by swallowing fecal particles containing the parasite. Again, the risk of infection if you have a cat or dog is low. Humans usually get a different type of giardia than cats and dogs, the CDC explains. However, the CDC notes, other types of pets, such as rodents, are more likely to carry strains of the parasite that infect humans.
Let’s start with the uncomfortable but obvious truth: Your pet’s mouth is filthy. Cats and dogs use their mouths for a lot of less-than-sterile activities, like mopping up that spill on the kitchen floor, checking out dead birds on the sidewalk, and, of course, licking excess poop from their butts. As a result, your pet’s mouth is coated in all sorts of unsavory specimens that it’s kind of gross to imagine squirming around in your mouth. But can these germs actually harm you? Let’s take a look.
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:
What can you catch from your pet? A number of “unlikely” conditions have been caused by sleeping with, kissing, or getting licked by a pet, according to a report published in the Centers for Disease Control journal Emerging Infectious Diseases. There are reports of a 30-year-old woman repeatedly getting strep from her dogs, a 40-something man who repeatedly contracted Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) thanks to his pooch, nearly two dozen instances of “cat-associated” cases of the plague, and numerous babies who contracted meningitis after being licked by a dog. Many people also got hookworms and roundworms from their pets. The findings “might make you think twice about snuggling up next to your dog tonight,” says Katie Moisse at ABC News.
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. While small children and those with weakened immune systems should be cautious, “for the majority of people in the U.S., its probably more dangerous to sleep in a bed than it is to sleep with your pet,” Karesh says, given that some 450 people die each year from falling out of bed.
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 can pet owners do to lessen the risk of disease? Dr. Ferguson recommends taking some precautions, like not letting your dog lick your face, and keeping your animal in good condition. “Keep your animal healthy and as clean as you can, so its hygienic in the house just like you are.” Dr. Karesh says that its important to keep up with your pets vaccinations and keep them free of parasites. And Nikki Moustaki, a New York woman who repeatedly got strep throat thanks to her dogs, found relief after she started wiping her animals paws with baby wipes after each walk, per her doctors orders.
Do dog licks mean kisses?Affection: There’s a pretty good chance that your dog is licking you because it loves you. It’s why many people call them “kisses.” Dogs show affection by licking people and sometimes even other dogs. Licking is a natural action for dogs.
This Is What Kissing My Dog for Too Long Looks Like…
You either love it or hate it: the wet, warm sensation of a dog licking your face. Many of us seek out this kind of interaction with our dogs (sometimes much to the horror of onlookers) while others try to discourage the behavior. Many dog lovers attribute a lot of meaning to dogs licking us, especially if we’re the sort that enjoy it – we say our dogs are giving us kisses 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?
Certified Professional Dog Trainer and Chair of The Association of Professional Dog Trainers Nick Hof, CPDT-KA, CBCC-KA, KPA-CTP, CSAT, explains there are a lot of reasons why dogs lick people’s hands, feet or faces. It might mean your dog wants to show you affection, but it could also be because you taste good or that your dog is struggling with compulsive behavior.
If you are wearing sweet-scented lotion, or come home sweaty, your dog might be licking you because you taste good. I know my own dogs are very excited to lick my hands if I’ve been eating something greasy or salty, like potato chips. Hof mentions that dog guardians shouldn’t be alarmed by their dogs finding them delicious – they probably won’t take a bite out of you!
While most of the time dog kisses aren’t anything to be concerned about, Hof warns there are times when the kissing might be a sign of something else going on with your dog. He advises that there might be an underlying health issue “if the licking seems to be compulsive, excessive, or self-destructive; if it is difficult to redirect your dog or they are harming themselves, you should consult with your veterinarian for help addressing this issue.”