Love Getting Puppy Kisses? You May Want to Think Twice After You Read THIS…

by Denisse Aguilar on in Health 28
kissing a pug

Oh no! Puppy kisses can be bad?! Find out why this is so below!

What is the truth? Is it OK for a dog to lick your mouth, or will it make you ill?

Hound Hygiene
There is an urban myth that a dog’s mouth is cleaner than our own. This misconception has arisen largely because the mouths of humans and dogs contain different bugs.

When dogs lick you, they’re transferring those doggy bugs onto your skin or into your mouth.

A study by Japanese scientists found that dog saliva contained bacterial pathogens that could cause periodontal disease in humans.

Antiseptic Saliva?
Wait a minute, I hear you say — doesn’t dog saliva have disinfectant properties?

This is something the scientists looked into and came up with and “yes but no” answer. It turns out dog saliva is weakly antiseptic toward E. coli and streptococci but little else.

Bug Breath
I’m going to sound like a real killjoy here, but a dog’s mouth and lips can be contaminated with some pretty unpleasant things. Just think of those delightful habits of eating poop and scavenging trash, and it’s little wonder a dog could be carrying infectious agents such as salmonella, campylobacter, giardia or toxocara.

Denying the dog attention when he licks sends out a strong message that it displeases you.

Canine kisses may be cute, but they’re not without hazard. You do risk picking up infections. So why not teach your dog a healthy “high-five” greeting instead?

While it may be fun to get some kisses from your adorable pooch now and again, it's important to remember the health risks involved. It's better to be safe than sorry. There are tons of other ways your pooch can learn to show his affection!

For more information on doggy hygiene, visit Petful.



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28 thoughts on “Love Getting Puppy Kisses? You May Want to Think Twice After You Read THIS…”

  1. Norma Farides

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    Oh my gosh! How did the kids of my generation EVER survive?!! Our dogs licked us, we climbed without ropes and harnesses, rode bikes without helmets, rode in cars without seat belts, and played in the dirt.

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