Does Dog Saliva Infect Wounds? Unfortunately, dog saliva can infect wounds. There are a number of bacteria present in animals' mouths that can cause infections in people, some of which can be severe. One example is a bacteria called Pasteurella that grows well in areas without air, such as deep wounds.
It is said that their saliva may have antimicrobial and healing properties. Yet, it may be important to not let your dog go too crazy with licking away at your wounds. This could cause an infection in your cut and it may not be the healthiest for your dog, either.
You can allow your dog to lick your wound for a short time, but it won't provide the same care as medicine or a visit to the doctor. As we mentioned, dogs do have some elements in their saliva that can reduce the severity of a wound. Those same properties can also help a human cut or injury to a degree.
Unfortunately, not all wounds will heal when licked. Moisture and inflammation from licking, and in some cases, the bacteria that lives in the saliva, can slow healing or even make the infection worse. This is why veterinary visits are recommended for even superficial wounds.
It is an instinctive response in dogs, humans, and other animals to attend quickly to wounds, and dogs are just one species that will lick at them to cleanse the area – cats, rodents, and monkeys do the same.
Human saliva contains a wide variety of bacteria that are usually harmless in the mouth but can cause significant infection if introduced deep within an open wound.
So, dogs know a person's individual smell and when illness changes that smell, dogs can notice that, too. Even humans can observe the scent of sickness with some health problems.
However, a dog's saliva and pathogens can be absorbed more easily through the mucous membranes of a person's nose, mouth and eyes. Though illnesses transmitted this way are rare, Dr. Kaplan said it was best to avoid having your dog lick those parts of your face.
“Dog saliva likely will do little harm to intact human skin, but could lead to irritation or even infections if there are any breaks in your skin barrier. You are most at risk if the saliva comes in contact with your mucous membranes, such as your mouth.”
Should You Allow Your Dog To Lick You? For most healthy people, a dog licking faces or other body parts should pose minimal health risk. If you are concerned, then do not let dogs lick your mouth or anywhere near an open skin wound.
***IMPORTANT NOTE: If you have pets, take extra precaution not to let them lick or rub against your new tattoo, as it's technically an open wound. Pet dander and hair in large quantities should not come in contact with your tattoo.
Licking feet may seem disgusting to you, but providing that your feet are healthy, you don't have any open wounds or haven't applied any medications that could be poisonous to your dog, such as psoriasis creams, then there is no harm in letting your dog lick your feet.
HUMANS NOT AT RISK, IT'S THE OTHER WAY ROUND
Other safe ways to show affection are cuddles, petting them on laps and of course belly rubs," says Dr Shilpy. However, experts say one should not let their pets lick the areas around nose, mouth and eyes to minimise risk of infections.
Saliva creates a humid environment, thus improving the survival and functioning of inflammatory cells that are crucial for wound healing. In addition, saliva contains several proteins which play a role in the different stages of wound healing.
Dogs, cats, small rodents, horses, and primates all lick wounds. Saliva contains tissue factor which promotes the blood clotting mechanism.
Try covering the wound with soft fabric secured by medical tape to prevent licking. Keep pets busy with other fun things to distract them from licking wounds.
Kissing on the face and lips is not a universal sign of affection for human beings, and the same goes for dogs. As puppies grow they come to use licking as a means of social communication; it is often a pacifying or peacemaking signal. Licking can also be used by dogs as an attempt to solicit food.
So, even though it may look cute, a dog licking a baby's face should not be allowed. In fact, I don't recommend it even for healthy adults. If your dog likes to give the adults in the family “kisses,” let them lick your hand and then immediately wash your hand thoroughly afterward.
Conclusion. Cuddling with and being licked by our pets can give us so much joy as a pet owner. For the majority of dog owners, letting their dogs lick their face or hands may come with little consequence. However, there are reasons to be cautious and to discourage the behaviour.
Licking releases endorphins and feel-good chemicals to the brain. This is sometimes why dogs often lick their paws, your feet, or your hands sometimes – you know, if they ever need an extra kick.
If you roll over in bed and startle your pet, he may not intend to bite, but an unintentional bite hurts just as much as an intentional one. But, if you and your dog do not have health issues or behavioral issues that would make sleeping together an unhealthy situation for either party, co-sleeping should be just fine.
As unlikely as it sounds, scientific evidence suggests that dog saliva, and even human saliva, has some antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. Dog saliva is even slightly bactericidal against Escherichia coli (E. coli), and against Streptococcus canis, which can be passed from companion animals to humans.
So Why Do Dogs Sniff Human Crotches? But what does that have to do with a dog's need to sniff a human's crotch? It all comes down to sweat glands, apocrine glands to be precise. These glands release pheromones that convey all different types of information such as age, sex, mood, and if a mammal is able to mate.
It turns out that both cats and dogs are able to detect menstruation by odor and hormonal levels. Of course, they don't actually have any scientific concept of what's happening in your uterus, but they do know that something is going on.
According to recent research, some dogs can actually detect breast cancer from the smell, which means that they could play a huge part in the early diagnosis of this condition in the future.