Dogs are wonderful animals. In addition, they like to show us their love by licking us. “A dog’s saliva contains less bacteria than that of a human being” is a recurring phrase in the mouths of dog owners whose four-legged companion has just licked someone.
As Dr. Tessa LeCuyer, professor and veterinary microbiologist, explains to Huffpost magazine, “all mouths are dirty, that is, full of microbes. A dog’s mouth is no cleaner than a human’s mouth.
Especially since dogs tend to sniff, lick, or even eat two particularly dangerous bacteriological sources: excrement and carrion.
“Dogs can thus be contaminated by salmonella or parasites, such as nematodes,” continues Dr. LeCuyer. If a dog eats raw meat, whether as part of its diet or because it has nibbled on a dead animal during a walk in the forest, it risks becoming infected with salmonella or listeria, potentially transmissible to humans.
As a general rule, you should wash your hands thoroughly after any contact with the animal. And if your dog is the type to sniff everywhere, it’s probably best not to let him lick your face. Indeed, “these bacteria could be transmitted if the dog licks someone around the mouth,” assures Dr. LeCuyer.
Most bacteria from a dog’s mouth can only make a human sick if it ends up in the dog’s own mouth or has entered the skin through a wound. This is why dog and cat bites pose a high risk of infection.
Is dog saliva dangerous?
Several studies have noted the presence of bacteria dangerous to humans in dog saliva, in particular germs resistant to antibiotics. Dog bites can further lead to life-threatening septicemia, as in the case study of a 41-year-old man who lost both legs, his nose and the fingers of one hand to infection. .
Even if there is no bite, there are openings in the skin through which infection is possible – for example through pimples, rashes or small cuts. People with skin problems such as rosacea, eczema or acne should also be especially careful. In them, dog saliva could trigger a flare-up.
The dog’s health is also potentially at risk. Indeed, medications administered through the skin or cosmetic products can be harmful to the animal if it licks a person’s face. Xylitol, for example, is particularly toxic to dogs, even at low doses. It is present in many skin care products and toothpastes.
According to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Association ASPCA, zinc oxide, a component commonly found in healing ointments and sunscreens, can cause stomach upset or allergic reactions in dogs. Some local anesthetics and painkillers, such as lidocaine, dibucaine, and diclofenac, are even more dangerous and are even potentially fatal, even at low doses.
How does your pet show their love to you? Tell us in the comments!
