Diseases from allowing a pet to lick your face are rare but more common in those who are immuno-compromised, an expert has said.
It comes after Daily Mail columnist Katie Spicer admitted to being a proud dog kisser, writing: “Kissing your dog can give you ringworm, E.coli and salmonella… but I love mine too much to stop”.
University of Leicester Associate Professor in Clinical Microbiology Dr Primrose Freestone told The Hard Shoulder different people can react differently.
“It depends actually on your immune status and what your understanding is of what dogs do,” she said.
“Dogs have licked their bottoms, licked goodness-knows-what-else and have about 600 species of bacteria in their mouth – several of which can actually cause life-threatening infections in humans.
“These humans, admittedly, are very susceptible – they're very old, very young, pregnant or immuno-compromised.
“Frankly I would not want a dog or a cat to lick me and especially on the lips because that is the way that infections get into your body”.
Dr Freestone said some infections can potentially be life-threatening.
“Infections from dog or cat saliva or quite rare but they can happen,” she said.
“When they do happen they can be very severe and even be life-threatening.
“Your dog is passing on its bacteria to you and by actually smooching up your dog you're passing your bacteria on to it.
“There's a dynamic exchange in micro-organisms going on”.
Dr Freestone said washing where your pet has licked you is also a good idea.
“Hygiene is important when it comes to dogs licking you,” she said.
“Washing your hands and washing where the dog or cat has been licking is probably a good idea just in case,” she added.
A 2020 survey found that 43% of pet owners kiss their animals.
One-third (35%) of dog owners say they let their dog lick their face or kiss them on the lips.
Just 18% of cat owners do the same.
