Dog Saliva Can Cause Allergic Reactions
If your dog licked your face and you wake up fine — acne-free — the next morning, congratulations. Your dog’s saliva didn’t bring problems that one time. However, the potential harm that dog saliva can do to you doesn’t end there.
Having allergic reactions is also a possibility. Compared to getting acne, this is the more dangerous aspect to dog saliva because these allergic reactions can cause a serious health problem.
How do you know you’re experiencing allergic reactions, you ask? Watch out for signs. The most common signs are itchiness and redness in an area of your body. And as much as you want to ignore the itchy and red area, you’re urged to scratch it.
Other signs of allergic reactions also include swelling, coughing or wheezing, and shortness of breath. If you’re showing at least one of these signs, cleanse your body of your dog’s saliva. You may also temporarily relieve the pain and discomfort you’re experiencing with a recommended over-the-counter medication.
After taking the recommended over-the-counter medication, you should be relieved of the pain and discomfort. If not, follow up with a doctor. That’s what you should do, too, if you want to solve the problem permanently.
How do you get rid of dog allergies forever?
These techniques include:
How do I know if Im allergic to my dog?
swelling and itching in the membranes of the nose or around the eyes. redness of the skin after being licked by a dog. coughing, shortness of breath, or wheezing within 15 to 30 minutes of exposure to allergens. rash on the face, neck, or chest.
Why Does My DOG LICK ME? (Face, Feet, Hand and Ear Licking)
While we all love a good smooch from our pups, there are lots of germs and bacteria in dog saliva that can make us sick. So while that kiss might be funny in the moment, you could regret it afterward.
“When dog saliva touches intact human skin, especially in a healthy person, it is extremely unlikely to cause any problems, as there will be very little absorption through the skin,” says Sonia Batra, MD, dermatologist and co-host on the show The Doctors. “However, a dog’s saliva and whatever might be in it can be absorbed more easily through the mucous membranes of a person’s nose, mouth, and eyes, as well as any cuts or wounds,” she explains.
The good news is, it’s not super common for that wet doggy kiss to cause health problems. “It is rare to get sick this way, but it does happen,” she says. “This is more likely in people whose immune systems are suppressed.” (Here are 7 ways youre making your immune system weaker.)
Still, after being licked by a dog, it is important to always wash your hands and any licked areas with soap and water, Batra says, just to keep yourself safe. Here’s what can happen—worst-case scenario—if you let your best bud slobber over you:
“Hookworm and roundworm is transmitted from dog to dog when they ingest one another’s stool or lick each other’s anuses,” says Batra—and let’s be honest, we’ve totally seen that happen.
The worst part? Dogs can transmit these parasites to you when they lick you. Again, it’s rare, but it can happen! If you have either of these parasites, you might notice skin rashes and itchiness, weight loss or decrease in appetite, wheezing and coughing, stomach pain and diarrhea, fatigue, and maybe even fever.