Should you let your canine companion lick your face? Experts have mixed opinion. Is it safe to let your dog lick your face? Here’s what vets say(Pixabay)
Pet parents often feel that their canine children licking them is an ultimate sign of affection. While some do not mind licking and kissing by their pets at all, some may worry about catching some kind of infection from them. If you think you can read your dogs mind when they are licking you, heres a trivia – dogs can lick for a variety of reasons not just affection. (Also read: Dog biting cases on rise; dos and don’ts for pet owners by an expert)
They could be trying to communicate something by seeking your attention, attempting to please or simply asking for food. Yes, a lot of times, it could be due to plain affection. Coming back to whether you should let your canine companion lick your face, experts have mixed opinion on this. While some feel its okay to let them do so, others feel it could be harmful for both pets and their parents. Heres how.
‘NOT REALLY UNHYGIENIC’, SAYS AN EXPERT Is dog licking your face unhygienic?(Pixabay)
“While it may seem that it is unhygienic it is not so. Yes, it is a known fact that dogs lick themselves and also communicate amongst themselves through various practices. Their licks of affection are completely harmless to the human skin. If you are completely averse towards them licking you, they understand that and try their level best to appease your wish of not being licked but they too lose control and sometimes out of excitement will forget this and just might lick you. This does not mean they are not taking your likes and dislikes into consideration it just means that they love you too much and have no other way of expressing themselves as they have no ways to speak it out to you,” says Dr. Shantanu Kalambi, Chief Veterinarian, Supertails.
Is it unhealthy to let a dog lick your face?
The question of whether or not to encourage kisses is an issue that divides many pet parents.
On one hand, dogs’ saliva contains some antibacterial and antimicrobial properties – which explains why they instinctively lick their wounds to promote healing. On the other hand, it would be inaccurate to claim that dogs’ mouths are categorically cleaner than humans.
Dogs’ mouths are home to a microbiome of unique organisms. While these yeasts, viruses, and bacteria are normal for your dog, they are unfamiliar to our human immune systems. There is a possibility that exposure to these novel organisms can make people ill.