Are dog kisses a health risk?
Why Your Dog Kisses you
Are dog slobbers a health risk - Why your dog kisses you.
Dogs kiss and dog slobber… It’s what they do. Some dogs do more of it than others. Even if you’re not a big fan of slobbery doggy licks, have you ever wondered why they do it? When dogs lick our faces, are they “kissing” us, or is something else going on?
According to veterinary behaviorist Dr. Wailani Sung, dogs’ face-licking behavior probably evolved from their wolf ancestors. Wolf pups lick the mouths of adult wolves to trigger regurgitation of partially digested food. It’s part of the weaning process in which puppies transition from sucking their mother’s milk to eating partially digested food and finally, to eating solid food.
Your dog’s licking behavior can also occur as part of grooming, says Sung, and if your dog can’t reach your face to “groom” you, he may lick something closer to him such as your hand or leg.
Some dogs will lick a complete stranger’s face as an act of appeasement if they for some reason feel threatened by the person. Also, “When dogs lick the face of children,” says Sung, “it can be a sign of affection, appeasement or simply the act of cleaning food residue off their little faces.”
For Most Dogs, Licking Is an Affectionate Gesture
According to dog training expert Victoria Stilwell, submissive members of a wild dog pack often lick the more dominant members in an important gesture that helps maintain social harmony within the group. However, with most domestic dogs, licking is simply a sign of affection.
“Licking releases pleasurable endorphins which give dogs a feeling of comfort and pleasure — like the feeling people get when they are biting their nails — it relieves stress,” says Stilwell.
If your dog is a bit overly enthusiastic with his licking or if you prefer that he not lick your face, she offers this recommendation:
“If your dog's licking is purely a sign of affection, one way to decrease this is to ignore the licking. Licking never gets attention. If your dog licks you, then you immediately stand up and walk into another room. You want to teach your dog that licking means the person will leave the room. When you pet your dog, if he starts to lick, the petting stops and you walk away. With repetition the licking will stop.”
I would add that you should always do this from a loving place, keeping in mind that your dog is expressing his affection for you in one of the few ways he’s able to.
Are Dog Kisses a Health Risk?
It’s a myth that dogs’ mouths are cleaner than the average human's. In fact, it defies common sense! Dogs' mouths are overflowing with all kinds of bacteria, all the time. Think about it: your dog uses his mouth to do many of the same things you do with your hands … right before you wash them.
Dogs also lick their backsides, sniff the rear-ends of other pets, shove their noses into dirt, lick shoes, chew on socks … you get the idea.
This doesn’t mean you should push your dog away when he tries to lick you, but it’s important to be aware that her mouth might at times harbor harmful bacteria, so it's a good idea after a slobbery pooch smooch to wash up with soap and water, especially if you’re immunosuppressed.
Fortunately, our skin is designed to provide an effective barrier against potential pathogens in dog saliva, and if necessary, our immune system can mount a protective defense as well. However, if there’s a break of any kind in your skin and your pet licks the area, in a worst-case scenario it can be very serious.
So remember this, your dog is showing you the only way he can his affection for you by licking your face. She cant talk and he can’t drive to Publix to buy you a mushy, I Love You card. So accept his love and enjoy it…it won’t kill you.
Steven Monahan
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