a reason your dog should not lick your face

[davet]

http://www.canada.com/national/national ... 678190b6b1

[k9Karen]

Oh geez - more germophobic press. Staph aureus is a human bug, not a dog one. Dogs have Staphylococcus intermedius as part of their skin flora; in humans, it's Staphylococcus aureus. If it's in your nasal passages, just breathing may cause it to land on someone else. Yes, this organism can be a bad one IF it gets into a wound or somewhere else it shouldn't be, but it colonizes our skin, mucous membranes, and nasal passages, and does absolutely no harm there. No more harm that the E.coli, and other 'bad bugs' that normally inhabit our intestines. Our immune systems keep us from having problems with this and other organisms. That same immune system needs stimulation to stay alert and on-guard. In fact, there is some very interesting research that suggests the rise in autoimmune disease is due to us being 'too clean'. It seems that the immune system needs to work, and when it doesn't have anything bad to fight off, it starts attacking our own cells. I work with MRSA every day, and have for 30 years. I've never had an infection from it, and I suspect I've brought it home to my dogs and my family. They have also never been infected. (Allie's abscess a few months ago was from Staph. intermedius - it came from her own skin, and her ear infections are Malassezia). Play in the dirt and let your dog kiss you - just wash your hands before you put them in your mouth or prepare food. It's all about basic hygiene, and more antibiotics are not the answer to - they are the cause of - the problem.

[momPaws]

Thanks Karen- what would life be without puppy kisses.

[k9Karen]

Thanks Karen- what would life be without puppy kisses.

Ahhhh - puppy breath!! What a nice way to start the day!

[davet]

I learn something every day...I didn't know Staph Intermedius was a normal bug on dogs because itt is one of the primary kritters causing dermatitis...thought it was an invader....

[davet]

forgot to add that whenever clients would ask me if it was alright to have the dogs lick their faces, I would say no problem but just watch the other places a dog licks and see if you want to be part of the cycle

[E's]

LOL this is a good thread! My DD has preached for years on how anti bacterial products cause trouble they're supposed to prevent... yet I notice that in her cluttered, messy house there is an anti b soap dispenser on every sink ... Me, I go with davet's reply... but washing hands after contact with animals was a rule drilled into bro and me beginning in the 1930s by our dad, son of an MD and himself educated as one... Which reminds me, does anyone else remember "Lifebuoy" soap? Was it an early form of anit bacterial... or not?

[davet]

life bouy was in about the time the burma shave signs were around...wether it is antibacterial or not it did have a good fog horn sound

[Traci]

MRSA- FAQ's

It's been isolated in horses, dogs, cats, rabbits..but had been unclear if was orignally transmitted by humans. It appears it can readily be re-transmitted between pets and humans (particularly if the human is already ill or immunocompromised).

[k9Karen]

Very excellent link, Traci. Finally, a site that isn't germophobic, understands that bacteria are part of our environment, but also tells the truth that, especially in immunocompromised individuals, infection can result because of this (as well as other) bacteria to which they are exposed (through any route).