If you're like most people, you've heard people say that dog saliva is clean, and that a dog's mouth is cleaner than yours. Is this true, or is it just another old wives' tale? The truth is that pet saliva can be a hazard and a benefit, but by taking care of your pet's health, you shouldn't have to stop your pet from kissing you.

Is dog saliva clean? Not exactly. A dog's mouth can harbor all kinds of parasites and bacteria that can be transmitted to humans, many of which can lead to medical conditions, especially in young children and adults with weakened immune systems. The diseases that can be transferred from dogs to humans are called "zoonotic."

Bacteria:
Dogs normally carry Pastuerella in their mouth, which can cause skin and lymph node problems, and in some cases severe infection, however, there's little data about how easily dog licks can spread the bacteria.

Parasites:
Dogs are hosts to many different types of parasitic worms and single-celled parasites. If a human is infected, the human can experience skin problems, blindness, brain disorders, and intestinal diseases. If a dog has licked their anus or eaten feces that is 1 to 21 days old, they can pass parasite eggs to humans, namely Giardia and Cryptosporidia.

Curative Power of a Dog's Saliva

There is a chemical in dog saliva called histatins, which can speed wound healing in humans. It does it by promoting the spread of new skin cells. According to Dr. Nigel Benjamin of the London School of Medicine, when dog saliva comes into contact with the skin, it creates nitric oxide, which inhibits bacteria growth, reducing the chance of infection in a wound. Who knew?

Those at the greatest risk of a bacterial or parasitic infection from dogs are young children, the elderly, individuals receiving chemotherapy, and those with AIDS. People with healthy immune systems are less likely to become infected from dogs' kisses.

To learn more about the safety of pet licks, contact a local veterinarian!