What happens to our body when a dog licks us on the mouth?
Many people have pets. Dogs and cats are the most common and they give us a lot of affection. And we know that cats, by nature, are more "shy" - which is why they say that "a dog is a man's best friend". A dog's loyalty to its owner is boundless and there is nothing and no one that can break this unconditional love. And dogs never misses an opportunity to show us their affection.
A dog wags its tail, barks, spins around, runs around like crazy, and even "kisses" his favorite human—all ways it shows its owner its affection. But are all of these behaviors without risk? Read on to find out more:
via The Guardian
Dogs are unique and would do anything to protect their master. For this reason, many people treat dogs as if they were human children.
When you get back home from work,for example, it is normal for our dogs to greet us enthusiastically. And there are those who allow their dogs to lick them. And not only on the hands, but also on the face and, often, on the mouth. But this could be a risky habit. Let's find out why:
Allowing your dog to "kiss" you on the mouth: right or wrong?
That the dog is, in effect, a member of the family, is perfectly normal. But we still have to protect ourselves from engaging in risky habits with our pets - dogs in particular.
John Oxford, professor of virology and bacteriology at Queen Mary University of London, highlighted some important information. Ddogs spend a lot of their time with their muzzles in or on dirty surfaces, sniffing and licking objects that are not sanitary. This means that dogs have a lot of bacteria and viruses in, on and around their muzzles. Our immune system can fight many of these "doggy" bacteria and viruses, but there are some that can make humans ill.
Our mucous membranes, especially those of the mouth, nose and eyes, may not be strong enough to combat every viral or bacterial attack, leading to sickness.
In addition to the Oxford study, there is also Bruno Chomel, a professor of veterinary medicine at the University of California, who has also warned pet owners against exposing themselves to health risks.
So, it's okay to love our dogs unconditionally, but it's best if we don't let them lick us - especially on the mouth.
And you? Do you allow your dog to lick you, or are you careful about this?
