Loving dogs, hugging or caressing them is very common nowadays. Many people consider their pet dog as a family member and even kiss it to express love. But the question arises whether it is right to kiss a dog or it can cause harm to health. The answer to this is not a simple yes or no, but there are some important precautions and scientific reasons behind it, which are important to understand.
First of all, it is important to know that a dog’s mouth is not as clean as that of humans. There is a common belief that a dog’s mouth is cleaner than a human’s, but medical science does not consider this to be completely correct. Dogs touch the ground, dirt, shoes, garbage and many such things with their mouths which may contain bacteria and germs.
What bacteria are in a dog’s mouth?
Bacteria like Salmonella, E. coli and Campylobacter can be found in their mouth, which can cause stomach problems, diarrhea and infection in humans. In such a situation, kissing a dog directly on the mouth or lips can be risky, especially for children, the elderly and people with weak immunity.
Make your stomach healthy like this
However, this does not mean that it is wrong to show love to a dog. If your dog is completely healthy, is regularly vaccinated, is dewormed on time and special care is taken of its cleanliness, then the risk can be reduced to some extent. Still, doctors and experts believe that it is better to avoid kissing the dog around its face, lips or mouth. To express love, patting the person on the head, hugging or caressing the back are considered safer options.
A dog can bite due to this 1 mistake
Another important thing is that not every dog likes to be kissed or come close to the face. Sometimes the dog may feel uncomfortable and may bite out of fear or anger. This danger is especially high with children, because they cannot understand the body language of the dog. If the dog is retreating, averting his eyes or growling, it is a sign that he needs space. In such a situation, kissing forcefully or going too close to the face is not only wrong, but can also be dangerous.
This increases the risk of infection manifold
From a health point of view, if a dog licks your face or you kiss it, you should immediately wash your hands and face with soap. Kissing a dog should be completely avoided if it has open wounds, cuts or mouth ulcers, as the risk of infection increases manifold.
Do this work with your pet dog
Apart from this, washing hands after taking the dog out, before eating and after playing should be an important habit. All that can be said is that kissing a dog is not completely prohibited, but it is also not considered completely safe. Keeping health and safety in mind, it is better to adopt other ways of expressing love. Giving time to a dog, playing with it, training it and taking care of it is the best and safest way to show love. If you take precautions, you can build a beautiful relationship with your pet without any risks.
