A medical expert has explained why you should never kiss your dog on its mouth.
TikTok user @medexplained2you revealed why dog owners should avoid mouth-to-mouth contact with their dogs — and it’s not just because it’s unhygienic.
Keep reading to find out more…
Let’s be honest, the majority of dog owners have at some point had mouth-to-mouth contact with their furry friends.
But a medical examiner on TikTok has said it’s time to stop doing that.
In the video, the examiner said: “Do you kiss your dog on the mouth? Because if so, it’s time to stop.
“You could actually lose your limbs over it.”
“I’m unfortunately not kidding, because kissing your dog on the mouth can actually cause an infection with something called Capnocytophaga Canimorsus.
“This is a serious illness that can cause widespread stomach infection, septic shock, and even gangrene,” he explained.
“Depending on how fast it progresses and when it’s diagnosed, amputation may become the only treatment.
“Why not avoid all that trouble and just stop tongue-ing your dog?
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“Seems like an easy fix to me,” he finished.
For people who still aren’t convinced by this, The Center for Disease Control and Prevention backs up the examiner’s theory.
Their website states: “Rarely, Capnocytophaga germs can spread to people through bites, scratches or close contact from a dog or cat and may cause illness, including sepsis.
“Most people who have contact with a dog or cat do not become sick.
“People with a weakened immune system who have difficulty fighting off infections (for example, people with cancer or those taking certain medications such as steroids) are at greater risk of becoming ill.”
Though the chances of getting the germ are slim to none, it’s not worth the risk to have your leg or arm amputated just for a small kiss from your dog.
Back in 2019, a woman called Marie Trainer suffered an amputation as a result of ‘puppy kisses’, according to CNN.
It was reported that she got into contact with the bacteria after her German Shepherd, licked an open wound.
She arrived at the hospital unconscious and ended up in the intensive care unit.
When Trainer woke in a hospital bed 9 days later, her hands and legs had been amputated.
So maybe from now on, you’ll think twice before giving your dog a kiss on the mouth.