Why you shouldn’t kiss your dog on the mouth

Kissing your dog on the mouth may seem like the most affectionate thing ever.

Dogs are just like your family members and it only makes sense to give them cuddly kisses with all your love.

But do you know that this affectionate action of yours may not really be a wise thing to do? Yes, you read that right.

Kissing your dog on the mouth is very unhygienic and unsafe for you. This can be a harbinger of a number of diseases that can make you bedridden.

Beware! Here are a number of reasons why you shouldn’t kiss a dog on the mouth!

1. Your dog’s mouth is filthy
Period. Your dog’s mouth contains all kinds of bacteria because they love to sniff around and lick things here and there. If something falls on the floor, they will start licking it as soon as possible. Dogs don’t tend to clean their mouth by themselves nor do their owners run behind them with a cloth to clean their mouth all the time. Imagining all the dirty germs inside their mouth can make you squirm, feeling so gross!

2. Your oral health will go for a toss
Kissing your pet can compromise your oral health. Cats, dogs and humans are said to have some type of bacteria that might cause periodontal disease. This is also known as gum disease and can be quite harmful to your health. Pet owners are said to come in contact with periodontal diseases commonly.

3. There’s a constant risk of infection
Dogs carry a lot of germs and there is no surprise about that. But their bodily fluids can bring about a cause of zoonotic diseases among humans. Zoonotic diseases like avian flu can be transmitted through the virus, bacteria, fungi and parasites that pass from dogs to humans. “If your mouth, nose and eyes come in contact with germs transmitted from your dog, you will be more vulnerable to absorbing germs,” Mia L. Geisinger, the D.D.S., associate professor and director of the Advanced Education Program in Periodontology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry told SELF.

4. If you have a weakened immune system, then beware!
If you fall sick too often, then kissing your dog can compromise you and put your immune system at greater risk. Getting bacteria transmitted from your dog can cause flu-like symptoms like fever, headache, fatigue etc. So, it is advisable to avoid coming in contact with a dog’s bodily fluid or poop because these are the biggest ways in which you can fall sick!

Do you like kissing your dog but are reluctant now that you’ve read all the disadvantages? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!