Are dogs' mouths really cleaner than humans'?
By imaginelove
@imaginelove (181)
United States
March 3, 2009 10:45pm CST
All dogs lick themselves. Some eat their own feces.Humans (most of 'em, anyway) do not.So how in the world can the mouth of a canine be cleaner than that of a person?
Simple -- it can't.
This is basically an urban legend. Although the mouth of a typical dog is full of bacteria, it's "species specific." So, if a dog were to lick a person, most of the germs wouldn't transfer.Bottom line -- you're more likely to get a serious illness from kissing a person than kissing a dog."
The myth may have stemmed from the way pups lick their wounds.A dog's tongue gets rid of dead tissue so wounds heal faster. Perhaps folks concluded that dog saliva is "healthy." Hardly the case, but you shouldn't be afraid of licks. They might be gross, but they're not dangerous.
1 response
@TRWilliams02 (349)
• United States
4 Mar 09
Dogs eat their own feces as a way of "cleaning up" after themselves. I have a boxer pup who early on did this and talked to a dog expert and thats what she told us. I was little freaked out and I think this was truly the last time I let her "kiss" me.


