Is it OK to let a dog lick your face
Why You Shouldn't Let Your Dog Lick Your Face, From a Vet
There are many ways that a dog can show physical affection, but the main one is licking. Dogs are prone to licking our hands, legs, feet and, especially, the face.
Debate rages as to whether you should let a dog lick your face, mainly due to misconceptions around their cleanliness, and specifically about how clean their mouths are.
Newsweek spoke to Judy Korman, DVM, veterinary consultant with formula company MYOS Pet, about whether you should let a dog's mouth near your face, how to keep your dog's mouth healthy, and any potential health risks.
Is My Dog's Mouth Cleaner Than Mine?
The short answer is no, dog mouths are not cleaner than those of humans. Dogs carry around 600 different types of bacteria species in their mouths.
"Like many myths, it is unclear how the myth that dogs have cleaner mouths than humans got started or took hold," Korman told Newsweek, "Perhaps it started with the observation that a dog's saliva must have healing properties since dogs typically lick their cuts and wounds, attempting to heal them."
Another possible explanation is that the saliva and bacteria in a dog's mouth create an environment that can prevent the formation of cavities. "The pH of a dog's mouth is less acidic than that of their human counterparts. This reduces the risk of cavities, but does not lower the risk of them getting periodontal disease, which is also caused by bacteria," said Korman.
Should I Let My Dog Lick My Face?
"It's important to remember that it is rare for people to acquire infections from their dogs," said Korman. However, there are some potential scenarios where it might not be the best idea.
"Dogs love to lick our faces, as this is often how they greet and show affection to members of their pack," she said. "If you enjoy face licks from your dog, then you should go for it, but be aware of certain situations that can make the practice a bit risky."
If you are immunocompromised, have a newborn baby, or allergic to the saliva of a dog, then it may be a good idea to avoid licks as certain germs and bacteria can be transmitted through dog saliva.
"Also, avoid face licks from dogs that have a tendency to eat their own or another animal's poop," advised Korman. "Germs, whose route of transmission is oral to fecal (e.g. some intestinal parasites, bacteria and viruses), can uncommonly be transferred from dogs to humans if the dog has recently ingested these germs by eating infected animal feces and subsequently licks your mouth."
There are some bacterial infections that can be transmitted to humans, but they are rare. According to the Centers for Disease Control a family of bacteria called Capnocytophaga that resides in the mouths of dogs can cause some issues for humans.
"Typically, the person would need to be bitten by the dog or have an open wound or cut for the bacteria to enter the person's body," said Korman, "Most people who have such contact with a dog do not become sick. People with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of becoming ill.
"Yersinia enterocolitica is another type of bacteria that can be transmitted to people by a dog bite. It may cause gastrointestinal disease in some, particularly those with weakened immune systems," she added.
Can I Eat Food My Dog Has Licked?
Unless your dog is incredibly well-trained or not at all interested in human food, it's usually a risk to leave them alone with your intended dinner. If they do have a penchant for human food, depending on whether it's a couple of licks or a complete decimation, you may wish to salvage some of your chow.
"It should be safe to eat food that your dog has licked, provided you know where your dog's mouth has been," Korman said, "Dogs that eat their or another animal's feces can pick up germs that they can then pass onto the food they lick. Theoretically, if a person then eats the food they can contract the germ and become infected. However, this type of transmission is rare."
It is possible for people to be allergic to canine saliva. "In fact," said Korman, "some studies show that it is the proteins in dog saliva, not dog dander or hair, that is the culprit causing the allergic reaction in people with dog allergies."
Top Tips For Keeping Your Dog's Mouth Clean
Although there are some risks involved in contact with dog saliva and mouth bacteria, they are low. However, there are things you can do to improve the cleanliness of your dog's mouth.
"Infections of the teeth and gums, called periodontal disease, is one of the most common problems affecting a dog's mouth," said Korman, adding, "It is associated with an overgrowth of certain bacteria in the dog's mouth and affects up to 90 percent of all dogs at some point in their lives. Your dog's bad breath may be a sign that they have periodontal disease. Regular teeth cleanings, performed by a veterinarian, are the best way to combat this disease."
The best way to keep your dog's mouth clean is to prevent the build-up of tartar and bacteria that can cause periodontal disease.
Korman's Top Tips For Keeping Your Dog's Mouth Clean
- Brush your dog's teeth daily
- Use antiseptic drops in their water
- Provide clean water daily
- Do not allow your dog to pick up feces
- Take your dog to the vet for regular (yearly) teeth cleanings
- Give your dog dental chews daily to prevent the buildup of tartar and bacteria
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Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Is It OK to Let Your Dog Lick Your Face?
Kissing is a common way for humans to show affection to one another. Some dogs love to give their humans kisses, too, but they do it in the form of licking.
If you have a dog that loves to give kisses, you may have wondered whether it's OK for your dog to lick your face.
Concerns with Dog Kisses
Dogs' mouths contain a huge host of organisms, including bacteria, viruses, parasites, and yeast, that humans don't have much immunity to. Some of them are zoonotic, which means that they can transfer from dogs to humans and cause illness in the humans. Some of these include Salmonella, e.coli, and campylobacter.
Not only are there lots of organisms inside your dog's mouth, but there are likely to be quite a few on your dog's face and muzzle because dogs are known for sticking their faces and noses into all sorts of places that might not be too clean.
Dogs use their mouths to explore the world, eat and drink, and clean themselves. So before you let your dog kiss your face, consider where his tongue might have last been.
When your dog licks your face, his saliva may get into the mucous membranes of your mouth, eyes, and nose, where they'll find it easy to enter your body. Your immune system is likely to fight the majority of these organisms off, but if you are immune compromised, already sick, young, or elderly, you may not be so lucky.
Should You Avoid Dog Kisses Entirely?
Now that you may be thoroughly grossed out about dog kisses, we'll tell you that you probably don't have to worry about a kiss given elsewhere on your body. If the skin where you receive the kiss is unbroken, organisms most likely won't be able to get into your body.
Special Concerns for Kids
It's especially important to do what you can to keep puppies and dogs from licking your child's face. Kids have immature immune systems that are less equipped to fight off microbes.
One big concern when it comes to kids is intestinal parasites that dogs, especially puppies, might be harboring. Eggs from these parasites are passed into the dog's stool. If the puppy gets stool into his mouth (which is quite likely for a puppy; he may eat his own stool or clean it off of his paws), those parasite eggs can be transferred to your child's mouth, where they are swallowed and can infect her.
These intestinal parasites can be quite serious in children. For instance, the most common intestinal parasite in puppies, roundworms, can even cause blindness in humans in some instances.
Not only is it important to teach your child not to allow a dog to lick her face, but she should be instructed to wash her hands whenever she's finished playing with a dog or after she plays outside, where she may come into contact with parasite eggs in the soil. Keep your dog's stool cleaned up outside, and be sure that you follow your veterinarian's de-worming and parasite prevention schedule for your dog.
Not All Dogs Like Kisses
Another important consideration when thinking about allowing dogs to kiss your face is that not all dogs are nice. If you are dealing with a dog you don't know well, don't offer your face for doggie kisses.
If You Still Want to Allow Dog Kisses
It's understandable if you still want to allow your dog to lick your face. In order to protect yourself as much as possible, follow these suggestions:
- Keep your dog's vaccinations, de-wormings, and parasite prevention up-to-date.
- Keep yourself healthy, and avoid dog kisses if you are immune compromised.
- Wash your hands and face with soap and warm water often.
- Keep your dog's mouth as healthy as possible with regular tooth-brushing at home and professional dental cleanings as recommended by your veterinarian.
- Closely monitor children with regards to dog kisses.
- Don't solicit face-licking from a dog you don't know.
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Disclaimer: This website is not intended to replace professional consultation, diagnosis, or treatment by a licensed veterinarian. If you require any veterinary related advice, contact your veterinarian promptly. Information at DogHealth.com is exclusively of a general reference nature. Do not disregard veterinary advice or delay treatment as a result of accessing information at this site. Just Answer is an external service not affiliated with DogHealth.com.
Puppy Kisses May Be Good for the Soul, but Are They Bad for Your Skin?
If youve seen an influx of furry four-legged friends around your neighborhood (or on your Instagram feed), its no coincidence. The COVID-19 pandemic led to a boom of pet adoptions, a trend commonly known as the pandemic puppy. Pet rescues and adoption agencies experienced exponential demand in the months following the onset of the pandemic, so much so that the waiting lists to not only adopt but foster became overwhelmingly long.
This new fad for bringing home a new addition to the family makes sense: in a time full of uncertainty and anxiety, pet companionship has shown to be great for our physical and mental health.
As anyone whos been around a young, overly excited canine companion would know, these friends absolutely adore eating, running (zoomies, anyone?), and covering their beloved humans in big, wet displays of affection. Why do our puppy pals love to lick our faces so much anyway? The answer lies somewhere between evolutionary habits and social conditioning.
When wolf cubs transitioned from their mothers breast milk to something more solid, they tend to lick the mouths of their adult counterparts for some uh, fresh leftovers. Yum! Knowing this, its no wonder our dogs use their super olfactory senses to hop onto our laps for a lick after weve devoured a slice of pizza or returned from the gym. As Community Medicine Veterinarian Tierra Price, DVM, MPH points out, Whether you just finished a steak or if you just came in from a workout, the taste of your face may be the appeal for some dogs.
While many pet owners relish the abundance of slobbery kisses from their fur babies, Im not so sure the skin on our faces feels the same. Dogs constantly eat whatever they find on the floor or outdoors, they lick their genitals, and then come over for a big ol smooch. Are their kisses (and the drool that inevitably comes with) harmful to our skin or harmless? We asked the experts.
New York-based dermatologist Dr. Julie Russak, MD, FAAD of Russak Dermatology Clinic informs, There is nothing specific in dog saliva that is damaging to the skin, unless you have allergies to dog saliva or dandruff, which is relatively common. Its never a good idea to put anything dirty on your face, which would apply to dirty dogs too. If the dog is groomed and bathed regularly then it is completely okay.
Dr. Hadley King, MD of HCK Dermatology adds, that while dog saliva contains bacteria, it also has antibacterial properties and would be an unlikely cause for infection. While many dermatologists and other skin experts in the field would agree with Russak and King on the overall harmless nature of this behavior, the consensus isnt unanimous.
Dr. Joshua Zeichner, MD of Zeichner Dermatology hints that if youve been meticulously adhering to your skin routine, letting your dog have a lick is not recommended. If youre taking good care of your skin with the right moisturizers and cleansers, I do not recommend allowing your dogs saliva to come in direct contact with your face, he says. 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.
You also dont want your dog ingesting whatever ingredients might be in the skin care products youre wearing on your face.
Beyond breakouts and infections however, some doctors warn against more perilous outcomes. Harkening back to a New York Times article from 2016 on the same topic, Dr. Neilanjan Nandi of Drexel University College of Medicine warns that most animals mouths are home to an enormous oral microbiome of bacteria, viruses, and yeast. While the act of licking themselves can result in psychological or physical well-being (think stress relief or cleansing themselves), prior research on the topic states that some bacteria specific to dogs is zoonotic, meaning it can spread disease from dogs to the humans they love so much. Yikes!
Professor of virology at Queen Mary University of London and expert microbiologist John Oxford agrees, saying he wouldnt let a dog lick his face merely on the basis that dogs spend most of their time engaging in unsanitary behavior as part of their natural inclination to sniff around and cover themselves in excrement or other nasty corners.
Its safe to say that theres no clear-cut answer on whether or not we should be letting our dogs lick our faces, even from the people who are experts on the topic. Its rare that illness will occur from the bacteria or germs dogs carry, but its not impossible. To be on the safe side even if you do groom your dog consistently continue to wash your face and hands regularly, especially after coming in contact with your pups mouth.
While a lick every now and again may not cause major acne, theres a small chance it can transmit harmful microorganisms to you if you allow the doggy saliva to enter your mouth or an open wound. If that doesnt scare you off, feel free to let your pup show you how appreciative they are to be in your care with a big, wet, sloppy kiss.
(Maybe throw them a fresh breath dental doggy treat first.) Pucker up!
Ondine Jean-Baptiste is a freelance writer and communications specialist based in Brooklyn. When shes not oversharing on the internet via Twitter or Instagram, you can find her binge-watching Master Chef, making a mood board, or telling anyone who will listen shes a native New Yorker.
