Dear Tiffani,

My dogs are big kissers. I know many people don’t like dog kisses, but my dogs particularly enjoy telling me they love me this way. I’ve heard that dogs’ saliva is not dangerous and that they can’t pass any diseases on this way, is this true? I brush their teeth (peanut butter flavor toothpaste!) regularly and avoid them after poop snacks but otherwise would like to indulge them in their preferred form of communication if it is healthy.

Thank you, on behalf of dogs who can’t hold their licker

Dear Licked,

I love this question because it inspired me to ask a lot of people if they liked dog kisses. I received many different replies, many rather humorous. Not everyone shares your appreciation of this form of dog affection. (I personally do, however.) Although after conferring with people in the veterinary profession, I am beginning to change my mind.

Dog saliva is not particularly “dangerous” but beware: your dogs may be carrying things that are less than pleasant. An animal’s tongue is their washcloth and it can be a vehicle for many things. As you know, we can not see, or control, everything our pets get into. When your dogs are at the dog park or anywhere other dogs or wild animals have defecated, they may get into fecal matter that carries parasites and microscopic organisms. Clearly, there is far less risk for pets who are not outside much. Cats who hunt often ingest infected creatures or waste. Just think of what their tongue touches; would you put your face or mouth in the same places? Asking this question to children is a fun way to encourage them not to have a dog, or cat, to lick them.

Zoonosis are diseases communicable between vertebrate animals and humans, though the majority of zoonosis are contracted when people ingest meat, not from pet interaction. However, a parasite like roundworm can be very dangerous to humans if ingested, although this is rare. Children are more susceptible to zoonosis because they frequently put their hands and unknown objects into their mouths, and are less likely to wash their hands. It is estimated that more than 750 children loose their eyesight annually due to roundworm infection. Roundworm infection is not necessarily from “dog kisses,” but from contact with feces infected with roundworms. While rabies can be transferred through saliva, a rabid dog can not pass it on just by licking you (unless they lick an open wound) because it has to enter your bloodstream, and this generally happens through a bite that breaks the skin.

I grew up with the old wives tale that a dog lick can help your wounds heal faster. I can even remember as a child trying to get my dog to lick my boo-boos. This is far from true however, as dogs’ mouths carry a host of bacteria, just as our mouths are bacteria-laden enough for dentists to wear gloves when they work on us. My old wives tale is further disproved by the fact that dogs who lick their lick granulomas, skin nodules related to specific diseases, can contract staph infections. If you have any questions about zoonosis your pet may be carrying, contact your vet. You can also boil a bunch of fresh parsley and put a spoonful of the parsley water in dogs’ food every day to help eliminate parasites, with fresh breath as an added benefit.

So the choice is yours. If you still want to enjoy this form of affection you may do so with some risk. Though the possibility of an illness or infection is rare, it is there. I know my eyes have been opened to things I had not considered. Perhaps we may be shaking our dogs’ paws as greeting rather than kissing hello!

Hugs over kisses, Tiffani

FEBRUARY WARNING: A reminder during this month of love and gift-giving to keep your sweets, especially the chocolates, out of your pets’ reach. Chocolate can be toxic to dogs and cause death. The purer the chocolate, the more dangerous it is. If your animal does consume any of these delectable sweets, contact your veterinarian as soon as possible with as much information as possible such as amount, time, and type consumed. Flowers, too, can be dangerous if ingested by pets, including baby’s breath, a variety of lilies, and tulips. Enjoy the Valentine holiday safely and show your pets you love them with a delectable dog-safe cookie treat available at many pet supply stores in the area, such as Way Out West, All Wags and Whiskers, Pet Smart, Murdoch’s or freshly baked at Barkenhowell`s.