Why you should NOT let your dog lick your face - and it's not just about germsď

Our furry friends' mouths host "an enormous oral microbiome of bacteria, viruses and yeast," Dr. Neilanjan Nandi told The New York Times .



Dog peeking out from behind a wall and licking his nose Getty
We love our dogs, but you may want to draw the line at having them lick you
While a dog's saliva contains proteins which assist in healing and cleansing its own wounds, "There are some organisms unique to dogs that we were simply not meant to tolerate or combat."

For example, some bacteria in dogs' mouths are zoonotic, which means they can be passed from animals to humans - and cause disease.

Common zoonotic bacteria are; clostridium, E. coli, salmonella and campylobacter, which can cause severe gastrointestinal disease in humans, said Dr. Leni K. Kaplan , a lecturer of community practice service at Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

When dog saliva touches intact human skin, especially in a healthy person, it is extremely unlikely to cause any problems, as there will be very little absorption through the skin."

Be careful about dogs licking your face, though. Their saliva and pathogens are more easily absorbed through the mucous membranes of a person’s nose, mouth and eyes.