Rarely is someone as happy to see you as your dog is. A wagging tail and possibly a few wet kisses await just inside the front door. For some, being licked on the mouth and face by the pet is perfectly fine, while others think it can be a bit awkward. Because what else has the dog licked or had in its mouth during the day? It has certainly eaten dog food and drunk water. Perhaps it has had a little cat wash, where both paws and genitals have been examined. And you can’t escape the fact that some dogs like to taste their own or other people’s poo… Do the sweet little kisses seem just as appealing now? Is it okay for the dog to lick your face – 👍 or 👎? Yes, of course. Some delicious dog smack is just fine 💋 As long as it’s not on the mouth 🐕 No, I think that’s disgusting 😝 Show result A little delicious mud water quenches the thirst. Photo: Pixabay Camilla and Håkon 🐶❤️ Camilla Fjell didn’t really think she was a dog person. But that was before Håkon became part of the family. He is a four-year-old Pomeranian weighing 2 kilos, and is involved in most of what mother does. That means work, football matches, training and holiday trips. From time to time, the two go to a hotel for some quality time together. – Håkon is a dog, but I’m not so sure he knows it himself. He is my baby, says Fjell. This year, Camilla and Håkon take part in the TV program “From bully to best friend”. Blaute kiss – Håkon is allowed to lick my face and mouth, but somewhat limited. I actually think I kiss him more than he kisses me, says Fjell. She admits that it may not be the best she knows, but that it is an important way for Håkon to show love. – When Håkon licks my face, I think it’s his way of showing that he likes me. That he has missed me and cares about me. – Are you thinking about bacteria? – Naaaah. Isn’t a dog’s tongue very clean…? This can vary slightly, according to experts. In May this year, Håkon went to Spain for the very first time. Photo: Private Someone should stay away Anne Spurkland is an immunologist and professor of medicine at the University of Oslo. She says that in the main there is little cause for concern, but that dogs have different bacteria than humans have. – There is a bacterium in the oral cavity of dogs that has rarely led to blood poisoning in people with poor immune systems. Anne Spurkland does not have the impression that dog owners are more ill than others, and therefore she believes that it is harmless for the vast majority of people to be licked in the face by the family pet. Photo: Heidi Klokk But for the vast majority of people, it is harmless to let your own dog lick your face. Nevertheless, some groups are more vulnerable, according to the expert. – People with weakened immune systems should avoid being licked on the face. The very smallest children, who have not yet turned one, do not have a very good immune system either. So don’t let the dog lick the baby. The same applies when you pass the age of 65, because then the immune system is not as robust as before, says Spurkland. If you have open wounds or acne, you should also be a little careful, according to the professor. It may also be a good idea to keep an eye on what the dog puts in its mouth during a walk. – If it likes to eat poo, you should perhaps consider it. Is it okay to have the dog in bed? Solveig Jore is a senior researcher at FHI. She works in the Section for contamination from food, water and animals. She says that the Norwegian dog population is generally in good health and has a low incidence of infectious diseases. When asked if you should share a bed with your dog, she answers as follows: – We cannot give a concrete answer to such a general question as it will depend on, among other things, the health of both owner and dog. This is something you can seek specific advice about from both your GP and your vet, says Jore to news. Solveig Jore explains that in Norway there is no active monitoring of diseases that are contagious between dogs and humans. But several important diseases (zoonoses) are notifiable, and the Veterinary Institute has so-called passive surveillance. Photo: Norwegian Institute of Public Health – In terms of experience, dogs are to a small extent a source of infection in humans in this country, without this being systematically documented. An exception is bites, which often lead to infection and which always require medical attention. Jore has a simple piece of advice you can follow to avoid boring situations. – Most diseases that we assume can be transmitted from dogs to humans in Norway can be easily prevented by washing your hands thoroughly with soap and water after contact with the dog. In addition, you can avoid letting the dog lick its face, hands or other places with bare skin if you want to prevent the possibility of getting an infection. But there are also advantages to the dog’s bacteria, says immunologist Anne Spurkland. – If you grow up with a dog, you have less risk of allergies. The dog contributes to a richer bacterial environment in the home. It drags dirt in with it, and that’s a good thing. Poorer sleep A new study, published in March this year, shows that sleeping with pets can lead to poorer sleep quality. This applies especially to dog owners, according to the study. The researchers compared sleep data from people with and without pets. Almost all the participants in the study (approximately 1,500 people) who spent the night with their pet believed that co-sleeping had a positive or neutral effect on their own sleep. – Although more research is needed, these findings may indicate that most people are not aware of the potential negative effects pets can have on sleep. That’s what Brian N. Chin, who is the researcher behind the study and associate professor of psychology at Trinity College in Dublin, says. Camilla Fjell thinks it’s cozy to share a bed with Pomeranian Håkon – at least occasionally. – Håkon has his own bed, which he mainly sleeps in at night. But at weekends and if I have time off, he gets to come into my bed in the morning. And when I have the bed to myself, he gets to sleep with me all night. But if stepmother Camilla has recently changed the bedding, then it may take a few days before the little furry dot is allowed to jump in. When the two of them are staying at a hotel, they always share a bed, says Camilla. Photo: Private Published 13.08.2024, at 11.56
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Do you let your dog kiss you on the mouth or share a bed? This is what the research says – news Trøndelag – Local news, TV and radio
