Should I Let My Dog Kiss Me?
Sometimes when you get home and greet your furry friend, you’re met with a slobbery kiss. While this may be a sweet gesture, it’s not the most sanitary. In fact, every animal expert will agree that it’s extremely unsanitary for Fido to be licking your face, eyes, or nose. Let’s dive into the details behind why you should not let your dog kiss your face, along with the potential consequences of not adhering to this warning.
Why Does Fido Want to Kiss Me Anyways?
Your pooch tends to associate licking with communicating, grooming, and bonding. Momma dogs will often show their pups affection through creating biological bonds, like licking them from the moment they’re born. She’ll lick her pooches to “wake” them from their post-partum state, to help groom them, and even teach them bathroom functions. Also, to help feed her puppies solid food, she’ll regurgitate it and allow them to lick it up so that they can digest it on their own.
Additionally, no matter if it’s the 1st or the 5,000th time, dogs will often lick each other’s face or other areas when greeting to get a sense of the other canine. Pups will also use this sign of affection to show submission to their pack leader. Since our house dogs view their owners as the leaders of their packs, it makes perfect sense that they would take those past behaviors and integrate them into their current situation.
However, if your four-legged friend is excessively licking you, other people, or objects, then this could be a sign of a deeper issue. Many pups who act in this way typically are suffering from separation anxiety or anxiety in general, which numerous variables could cause. So, if you notice your canine licking excessively, be sure to notify their veterinarian.
Why You Shouldn’t Let Your Pup Kiss You
Fido’s mouth hosts an enormous amount of bacteria, viruses, and yeast. The term “zoonotic” is often used to describe the bacteria found in your pup’s mouth that can be passed on to people and cause them diseases. As you probably already know, your canine spends a lot of their time sticking their nose in places it doesn’t belong or at least in places we would never think to do the same. Your pup puts their nose in other dog’s rear ends, in random garbage left on the sidewalk, and if they find a way – in the toilet bowl as well. This all means that not only is Fidos’s mouth home to all of these bacterias, but their muzzle can also be. Bacteria can also quickly spread to their nose when they quickly wrap their tongue around it for cleaning.
Top 5 Reasons to Steer Clear of Canine Kisses
These are the top five bacterias that Fido could transfer onto you through kisses.
- Capnocytophaga Canimorsus – carried in the mouths of dogs, this organism can cause a severe sepsis infection.
- Staphylococcus Aureus (Staph Infection) – most of the time, your pup can carry this virus strain safely without it affecting their overall health. However, when it’s transferred to a human, it can lead to life-threatening results.
- Ringworm or Hookworm – these parasites can cause painful, itchy infections, inflammation, and even intestinal bleeding.
- E.Coli – this bacteria can be fatal, with symptoms ranging from diarrhea to nausea to intestinal bleeding.
- Salmonella – this painful bacterial disease can lead to diarrhea, intestinal cramping, nausea, and vomiting.
While doggy kisses can be a lovely gesture, they can also be extremely dangerous. While you don’t want to discourage your furry friend’s affection, it’s important to set boundaries so that everyone can stay happy and healthy.