Can you eat food after your dog licked it?
Same as I do, I know you love your pooch too. Getting into this, dogs tend to pour their head into almost everything, yes, just not the good stuff. They just stick their faces on poop, garbage, and what not?
There’s a famous expression where they say, “a dog’s mouth is cleaner than a human’s mouth,” but ever wondered whether it is true or not? I guess it’s a “NO” until now.
A dog’s mouth consists of hundreds of microbes; ever thought about it? Yes, every microbe doesn’t make the dog’s mouth dirty, but there are several types of bacteria that do
As an example, the bacterial family Porphyromonas is known for causing periodontal disease in both people and doggies. The species of Porphyromonas called P. gulae are considered “dirty bacteria” that cause problems mouth.
Considering this, it’s better “NOT” to eat the food after your dog licks it!
Hookworm and roundworm issues.
As a dog parent, I am quite sure that you have seen your blossom buddy licking other dogs’ poop at least once in your lifetime.
So what happens is that these annoying hookworms and roundworms get transmitted from dog to dog.
Later on, if the dog has contact with you through licking your face or when you eat food that is licked by your dog, it might get transmitted to you as well.
These can cause itchiness, redness on your skin, diarrhea, and even more damage such as intestinal damage, blindness, and even harm other organs.
Should you let dogs lick your plate?
Use stainless steel or ceramic dishes for pets; plastic bowls can get scratches or nicks that are breeding grounds for bacteria. And don’t let your pet lick your plate. Give pet dishes more than just a quick scrub in the sink — which is teeming with bacteria, by the way.
Is It Safe To Eat Food A Cat Has Licked?
A new study says the practice of feeding dogs a raw meat-based diet is on the rise, and with it, the chances of harmful bacteria being transferred from dog to owner.
“A great opportunity for dogs to transfer potential pathogenic and antimicrobial-resistant bacteria to humans is by ‘kissing’ people in the face immediately after they have eaten,” said researchers.
However, according to Jason Tetro, host of the Super Awesome Science Show, the likelihood of this is very low.
“We already know that raw meat is going to have a number of different bacteria in it, and those potentially can be harmful,” Tetro told Global News. “So there is an obvious chance that if a dog is eating raw meat, then in that saliva — right after they’ve eaten — there could be the potential for these bugs to be there and to be transmitted to somebody else.”
“Upon ingesting these foods, the saliva of the dogs are going to produce immune molecules which are going to help prevent the spread of these particular bacteria,” said Tetro, so you simply need to wait a while before you smooch your dog again.
According to Tetro, the only way bacteria can be transmitted from dog to human is through blood, so open wound dog licking and dog biting are the only times you should be worried.
“You’re not going to be exposing your blood to your dog during a kiss!” Tetro said.
However, the same is not true for the reverse: You can transfer your bacteria to your dog through kissing as a result of poor hygiene.
“Wash your hands after touching the food and keep an eye on any contamination of the environment by the food,” said Tetro. “This is basic human hygiene and should be given even more attention when dealing with raw food.”
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Researchers in the study also warn against the transfer of bacteria through the handling and storage of food, the dog’s feed bowls and the possible contamination of kitchen equipment.
Tetro says that transferring bacteria this way is more likely than kissing, but there is an easy three-step process you can follow to avoid contamination.
“Ensure that the food remains below 4 C to reduce the growth of bacteria,” said Tetro. Freezing is the best way to do this.
“Just as you do when preparing raw meat for dinner, make sure everything is done separately from other foods.”
“Bacteria dies at 74 C, so if you can use very hot water, that will help,” Tetro said.
“You may also want to use safe disinfectants such as hydrogen peroxide to reduce the levels of bacteria. It’s best to use non-porous items for your dishes as this makes it easier to clean them.”
