Hogs and Kisses: Should You Or Shouldn’t You Smooch Your Pooch Or Your Pet

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By Mia Bolaris-Forget

We’ve all heard about the many benefits of owning a pet. And, other than a few “messes” prior to training, achieving “maturity”, or struggling with leaving the “little ones” home alone while your away, out, or at work, there didn’t sent to be any downsides. In fact,s imply petting a pup (or full grown dog) can lower your blood pressure and your heart rate, with one study showing that down owners were 8.6 times likelier to survive a heart attack than those without a pooch or a pet. Still, when it comes to good health a pat on the back or back should be where it stops.

Experts note that smooching your pooch is a no-no. Dogs carry bacteria around in their mouths, note the pros, and that’s NOT something you want to expose you and your family to. They note that annually more than 200,000 Americans are diagnosed with stomach flue after ingesting a common bacterium found on the rear ends of pets (cats and dogs), known as campylobacter. Pets can also transmit salmonella, which often causes diarrhea in people. And, more often than not, these germs are transferred via traditional meet-and-greet sniffing and/or innocent affections such as a “kiss”. Remember, pets lick themselves all over and can easily transfer these bugs to you.

And, even if you don’t pucker up for your pet, it’s always best to scrub after petting hime or her. Soap and water are the best protection against some of the common germs and infections that can be passed along.

Last, but not least, protect yourself against poison ivy by getting out your gloves and washing down your pet after he or she has been frolicking in the yard.

Long Island Pets Articles > Hogs and Kisses: Should You Or Shouldn’t You Smooch Your Pooch Or Your Pet