Quote:
Originally Posted by Rhetts_mama  I didn't say a dog's mouth was sterile or had antiseptic quallities, but rather that they are cleaner in the sense that the bacteria they do carry tend to be species specific and less transferable to humans versus a human bite or even a human kiss. Dog Mouth Vs. Human Mouth | A Moment of Science - Indiana Public Media Myth: Dogs Have Cleaner Mouths Than Humans - ABC News
In addition, human bites tend to be deeper, increasing the risk of infection.
Obviously any one who is immune compromised by age or disease is at greater risk should avoid kissing or being bit by any animal.
And for the record, if my dog wants to lick me- I know what he has been eating and I know his teeth have been brushed. The tongue up the nose kind of grosses me out though... |
Sorry I didn't quote the person I was replying to in my response. It wasn't you I was responding to. It was someone else that said dogs mouth's have antiseptic qualities compared to humans, which they don't since humans and dogs saliva contain basically the same exact enzymes just some enzymes in humans are lower such as GF-I and TGF-α which are responsible for inducing antimicrobial peptides. Dog's saliva like humans also, do contain compounds that promote healing and their saliva has antibacterial enzymes and antiviral as well. What is dangerous and harmful is too much licking of wounds. It can cause lick granuloma or infection in animals since most lesions are infected with bacteria. Humans licking their own wounds can promote healing too like in animals, but as my vet strongly recommended - is that you confine yourself to licking your own wounds if you feel the need to do that.
And YES there are serious health hazards in wound licking due to infection risk, especially in immunocompromised patients.