Anything that weakens your immune system can up your risk of Capnocytophaga infection
Elderly people are particularly susceptible to sepsis from Capnocytophaga infections, according to a 2016 case report, because the immune system can decline with age. Older folks may also be more likely to own pets, the report stated.
Other risk factors include illnesses like HIV or cancer, certain types of medication, and even drinking heavily.
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:
“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.
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.
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.
Here’s how to know you might have an infection: “If a dog licks your face and the skin there becomes red and inflamed within minutes, thats a good indication that you have an allergy,” she explains. “Dog saliva contains glycoprotein, a substance that triggers the bodys defense mechanism in some people. It’s present in higher quantities in dander, but it is still present in saliva.”
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Dogs might be cute and fluffy. But when they lick your face, they could be putting your health at risk.
Experts have advised against letting your pooch give you kisses as their mouths harbour all manner of germs.
Professor John Oxford, professor of virology and bacteriology at Queen Mary University of London, said dogs mouths can carry salmonella and campylobacter, the most common cause of food poisoning. Advertisement
They can also pass on fungal skin infections like ringworm and, in serious cases, can transmit toxocariasis, a parasite that can cause cysts to develop in the brain and the eyes, leading to blindness.
Professor Oxford told The Hippocratic Post that he would never let a dog lick his face.
“It is not just what is carried in saliva. Dogs spend half of their life with their noses in nasty corners or hovering over dog droppings so their muzzles are full of bacteria, viruses and germs of all sorts,” he said.
Dr Helen Webberley, GP for Oxford Online Pharmacy, shares this view.
She told The Huffington Post UK: “Animals have different viruses, bacteria and parasites (worms) to humans and it makes very good sense to avoid any oral contact with animals to prevent the transmission of infections that we may not have the necessary immunity for.Advertisement
“Some would say that you should wash your hands after any contact with animals, and although this may not be practical for the family pet, it should still be considered as good, preventative hygiene.”
Salmonella and campylobacter are carried by dogs and passed on through their faeces. When another dog sniffs or (dare we say it) licks this faeces, it is transmitted to its muzzle.
Sadly, this bacteria could eventually end up on your face.
Campylobacter is the most common cause of food poisoning in the UK.
Common symptoms of a campylobacter infection include: diarrhoea, fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, headache and muscle pain. Salmonella can cause similar symptoms.
It is also possible for dogs to transmit fungal infections to humans. This occurs when someone touches a surface that has been in contact with the infection.Advertisement
“These parasites can infect humans if they accidentally swallow eggs,” Dr Hilary Longhurst, a consultant clinic immunologist based at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London, told The Hippocratic Post.
She added that toxocariasis, a parasite that can cause blindness, is another dangerous health issue which could be potentially transmitted between humans and pets.
“It is particularly a risk for young children and adults who are immunosuppressed. If you take your dog to the vet every year to be de-wormed, this should help to reduce the risk of transmission,” she added.
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An Ohio woman felt like she had the flu, laid down on the couch, and woke up 10 days later to find both of her arms partially amputated. According to Fox 8, doctors had fought to save her life (and limbs) by removing the many clots in her arms and legs, which had caused gangrene, or a death of tissue. But too much damage had already been done.
A blood test and cultures confirmed that the infection was from Capnocytophaga bacteria, believed to have been transmitted after the womans dogs licked a scrape on her arm, Fox 8 reported.
While serious Capnocytophaga infections in humans is rare, the bacteria itself is common in healthy cats and dogs. As many as 74% of dogs have the bacteria in their mouths, and never get sick themselves. Cats are also hosts to Capnocytophaga, although theyre less likely to transmit it to humans.
The vast majority of people who interact with pets wont get sick. However, people with compromised immune systems, the elderly, and people bitten by animals may be at risk.
Infectious disease specialist Dr. Thomas Butler previously told INSIDER that Capnocytophaga bacteria can be spread when saliva comes in contact with an open wound, anywhere the skin is broken, or a mucous membrane like your eyes, nose, or mouth. This is why a lick from your favorite furry friend, especially on your face, can be a problem.