Is It OK to Let Your Dog Lick Your Face?

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Kissing is a common way for humans to show affection to one another. Some dogs love to give their humans kisses, too, but they do it in the form of licking.

If you have a dog that loves to give kisses, you may have wondered whether it's OK for your dog to lick your face.

Concerns with Dog Kisses

Dogs' mouths contain a huge host of organisms, including bacteria, viruses, parasites, and yeast, that humans don't have much immunity to. Some of them are zoonotic, which means that they can transfer from dogs to humans and cause illness in the humans. Some of these include Salmonella, e.coli, and campylobacter.

Not only are there lots of organisms inside your dog's mouth, but there are likely to be quite a few on your dog's face and muzzle because dogs are known for sticking their faces and noses into all sorts of places that might not be too clean.

When your dog licks your face, his saliva may get into the mucous membranes of your mouth, eyes, and nose, where they'll find it easy to enter your body. Your immune system is likely to fight the majority of these organisms off, but if you are immune compromised, already sick, young, or elderly, you may not be so lucky.

Should You Avoid Dog Kisses Entirely?

Now that you may be thoroughly grossed out about dog kisses, we'll tell you that you probably don't have to worry about a kiss given elsewhere on your body. If the skin where you receive the kiss is unbroken, organisms most likely won't be able to get into your body.

Special Concerns for Kids

It's especially important to do what you can to keep puppies and dogs from licking your child's face. Kids have immature immune systems that are less equipped to fight off microbes.

One big concern when it comes to kids is intestinal parasites that dogs, especially puppies, might be harboring. Eggs from these parasites are passed into the dog's stool. If the puppy gets stool into his mouth (which is quite likely for a puppy; he may eat his own stool or clean it off of his paws), those parasite eggs can be transferred to your child's mouth, where they are swallowed and can infect her.

These intestinal parasites can be quite serious in children. For instance, the most common intestinal parasite in puppies, roundworms, can even cause blindness in humans in some instances.

Not only is it important to teach your child not to allow a dog to lick her face, but she should be instructed to wash her hands whenever she's finished playing with a dog or after she plays outside, where she may come into contact with parasite eggs in the soil. Keep your dog's stool cleaned up outside, and be sure that you follow your veterinarian's de-worming and parasite prevention schedule for your dog.

Not All Dogs Like Kisses

Another important consideration when thinking about allowing dogs to kiss your face is that not all dogs are nice. If you are dealing with a dog you don't know well, don't offer your face for doggie kisses.

If You Still Want to Allow Dog Kisses

It's understandable if you still want to allow your dog to lick your face. In order to protect yourself as much as possible, follow these suggestions:

• Keep your dog's vaccinations, de-wormings, and parasite prevention up-to-date.
• Keep yourself healthy, and avoid dog kisses if you are immune compromised.
• Wash your hands and face with soap and warm water often.
• Keep your dog's mouth as healthy as possible with regular tooth-brushing at home and professional dental cleanings as recommended by your veterinarian.
• Closely monitor children with regards to dog kisses.
• Don't solicit face-licking from a dog you don't know.

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