You might think it’s cute – that big, wet and slobbery
tongue reaching out from your canine’s jaw and affectionately lapping at you
face.
But what if I told you there was something quite sinister
about it?
No, I’m not saying your beloved Fido is trying to harm you
or anything like that. Your little (or big) furry friend genuinely is trying todisplay affection.
Too bad the same can’t be said for all the bacteria on their
tongue.
Are dog
mouths really cleaner than human mouths?
No. That’s a total myth.
Marty Becker, author of ‘Chicken Soup for the Dog Owner’s
Soul, puts it quite well when he says:
“All you have to do is look, watch, smell and you’ll realize
that is not true.
They raid the garbage can. You know, we give each other a
peck on the cheek when we say hello, they give each other a peck on the rear
end.”
John Oxford, professor of virology and bacteriology at the
Queen Mary University in London, expanded further on just how much bacteria
your dog’s muzzle and mouth can carry.
“It is not just what is carried in saliva. Dogs spend half
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.”
Those viruses and germs can cause conditions that are pretty
damaging to human health, as one U.K. woman learned the hard way.
She contracted an infection from her Italian greyhound’s
saliva. She didn’t even realize anything was wrong until she was on the phone
with a relative and began to notice her speech slurring.
By the time the ambulance arrived, she was slumped in her
chair, her health degrading rapidly. She recovered within two weeks of
intensive care and plenty of antibiotics.
Blood tests showed the infection to blame was due to
capnocytophaga canimorsus bacteria, which is commonly found in the mouths of
dogs and cats.
She’s not alone – there have been 13 similar cases
throughout the UK.
That’s
not the only disease Fido can pass onto you through their kisses.
There’s
also ringworm infection.
A ringworm infection is one of the easiest diseases for your
dog to pass onto you from smooching. If the ringworm bacteria is around their
mouth and you engage in kissing, bam. Ringworm for you too.
MRSA,
anyone?
MRSA infection in humans, which produce lesions like the
unsightly one above, can be caused by as little as one lick from your dog.
Dogs can carry around this bacteria with very little effect
on their own health but when an owner comes into contact with it… Yeah, it’s a
bad time.
Staphylococcus
Aureus
Staphylococcus aureus is similar to MRSA. Similar bacteria
(which can be found in Fido’s mouth) cause it but that bacteria is not as
resistant to treatment.
I’d still want to avoid it altogether to be honest, I don’t know
about you.
Capnocytophaga
Canimorsus
This one’s really bad. How bad? Let’s put it this way – I’m
easing you into it with some text before I drop the picture on you.
This man was told by his doctor that his capnocytophaga
canimorsus infection was caused by a dog licking his open wound.
His feet were even worse. One had to be partially amputated.
We’ll skip those photos.
Are you
going to catch a disease from your dog that leaves you with one foot and
disfigured hands? Probably not.
But are
you going to take the chance?
Seriously, avoid those kisses.
Source :Damn