There has been much written of the hazards of having a pet lick you with their tongue.

In one articel I read, a few "experts" talked about some serious diseases... then they made the assertion that these diseases can be avoided by staying away from wet kisses.

Dr. X talked about ALL of the bacteria in dog's mouths – but in fact we humans have an even greater quantity of disease causing bacteria... huh?... perhaps, people should stop kissing?

Dr. Y talked about two diseases that can cause diarrhea – Campylobacter and Salmonella.

But here is what the Center for Disease Controls says about contracting Campylobacter:

How do people get infected with this germ?

Campylobacteriosis usually occurs in single, sporadic cases, but it can also occur in outbreaks, when a number of people become ill at one time. Most cases of campylobacteriosis are associated with eating raw or undercooked poultry meat or from cross-contamination of other foods by these items.
Infants may get the infection by contact with poultry packages in shopping carts. Outbreaks of Campylobacter are usually associated with unpasteurized milk or contaminated water.

As you can see... NOT from dogs and cats.

But what about Salmonella?

Here is what is on the CDC website:

How do people catch Salmonella?

Salmonella live in the intestinal tracts of humans and other animals, including birds. Salmonella are usually transmitted to humans by eating foods contaminated with animal feces.

Contaminated foods usually look and smell normal. Contaminated foods are often of animal origin, such as beef, poultry, milk, or eggs, but any food, including vegetables, may become contaminated. Thorough cooking kills Salmonella. Food may also become contaminated by the hands of an infected food handler who did not wash hands with soap after using the bathroom.

Once again... NOT from dogs and cats.

Can you get sick by contracting something from your pet?

Yes, but VERY UNLIKELY.

As stated by in the CDC Web site about theses diseases – the primary way that you contract them is through CONTAMINATED and UNDERCOOKED meat – usually poultry.

If you're really worried – well, become a vegetarian.

My point of this newsletter is two-fold:

1. Because it's in a glossy magazine and has PhD behind it STILL does NOT mean that it is a TRUE story.
   
   QUESTION the conventional beliefs that you hear and read.
   
   Do some of your own research.
   
   Clearly, the magazine article I read was NOT well researched... the writer started with the premise that it is NOT safe to have your pets lick you, then went out to "prove" it.
   
   Of course, a few seconds of research proves otherwise.
   
2. The BENEFITS of having a dog or cat "kiss" clearly outweigh ANY risk...
   
   When I get woken up in the morning with a big wet kiss from Lewis... well, I start my day in a GREAT frame of mind!

Best Wishes,
Dr Andrew Jones, DVM