Dogs can enrich our lives in many ways. They may ease anxiety, reduce loneliness, make us more physically active and potentially even lower our risk of cardiovascular disease, lengthening our lives, some research suggests.
But yes. They can also make us sick.
“Germs from dogs can cause a variety of illnesses, from minor skin infections to serious illnesses,” said Dr. Casey
Barton Behravesh, a veterinarian with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Many people become infected after accidentally ingesting — yes, ingesting — dog feces, but infections can also be transmitted via dog bites, scratches and even licks on the face.
The good news is that dog lovers can take simple steps to greatly reduce their risk of being sickened by their furry best friends.
Dog Diseases
There is no shortage of germs that dogs can transmit to people. They include bacteria such as salmonella, E. coli and campylobacter, which can cause gastrointestinal infections; parasites such as giardia, cryptosporidium, hookworm and roundworm, which can also cause abdominal issues like diarrhea and stomach pain; and fungi that can lead to infections like ringworm, which can cause itchy, ring-shaped rashes.
It’s hard to gauge how many of these infections each year are transmitted by canines. That’s because it’s hard to trace illnesses back to specific animals and collect that kind of data, said Dr. Jason Stull, an assistant professor at the Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine.
Puppies under 6 months of age are the biggest culprits in spreading disease-causing germs, he added, in part because their immune systems are not fully developed.
Through bites, dogs can also transmit germs that cause serious diseases, such as rabies, a virus that attacks the nervous system, and capnocytophaga, a bacteria that can cause serious illnesses, including sepsis. Both illnesses can be fatal — but thankfully, they are quite rare, with rabies causing only one to three reported human infections per year in the United States and capnocytophaga infecting an estimated 150 to 250.
Some people are more likely to get sick from dogs than others, including those who are pregnant, immunocompromised, over 65 or under 5, Dr. Stull said.
Puppies under 6 months of age are the biggest culprits in spreading disease-causing germs, he added, in part because their immune systems are not fully developed.
If you own a dog, you can reduce your risk of illness by making sure it’s fully vaccinated and that it receives regular care from a veterinarian, said Dr. Dennis Horter, a veterinarian and chief operating officer of CityVet in Dallas.
Why does my dog lick me so much?
It’s an instinctive behaviour that’s linked to the comfort they felt when their mother licked them as a puppy. Licking plays an important part of how they bond with others, causing them to release dopamine and endorphins that help make them feel relaxed, calm and happy.
Is it good for a dog to lick you?
However, experts say one should not let their pets lick the areas around nose, mouth and eyes to minimise risk of infections. So, the verdict is – let your pet lick you but only after washing your face and hands, and not around nose or mouth.
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