So, is it actually unhealthy to let your dog lick your face?
We spoke to germ expert Kelly Reynolds, associate professor of environmental health at the University of Arizona, to find out if kissing your dog can actually put your health at risk.
03/7It’s not common but happens
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Be honest: Do you ever let your dog kiss you on the face? According to a recent article in The New York Times, if you do, you may be putting your health at risk.
Dogs’ mouths, like ours, are warm and moist, making them Petri dishes for bacteria. (Be honest again: How often do you brush your dog’s teeth?) Also, many dogs put dirt, feces, rodents, or small animals in their mouths, which could lead to the presence of parasites. Suffice it to say that the old wives tale claiming “your dogs mouth is cleaner than yours” is completely false. That’s why one expert, Dr. Leni K. Kaplan, of Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, told the Times that pet owners shouldn’t let their dog kiss a person’s mouth, nose, and eyes, through which certain pathogens, including salmonella and E. coli, can be transmitted.
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Meanwhile, scientists at the University of Arizona are currently studying whether some of the bacteria dogs carry can actually improve human health.
The results won’t be available for a while, so in the meantime, experts recommend owners regularly test their pets for parasites and keep them from eating or sniffing feces. And if you cant resist those puppy kisses, its safest to keep them away from the face. https://www.akc.org/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php Get Your Free AKC eBook
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It seems harmless enough. You get nose to nose with your dog and talk to it as it laps at your mouth and cheeks with its tongue, or you come home from work and bring your lips to your dog’s in a greeting to say hello.
It may feel like the ultimate display of affection, but when it comes to such kisses, experts caution: Beware of dogs.
