Do pets really have cleaner mouths than people?
Slobbery pooch smooches and whiskery cat kisses are being happily shared between pets and owners every day without causing any problems, so it’s easy to see why so many people believe that our beloved pets have cleaner mouths than we do.
But that’s just not the case.
Pets have just as much bacteria in their mouths as people do. Plus they eat gross things off the ground, hunt all kinds of bugs and animals, and lick their unmentionables (yuck!). To top it off, pets usually don’t get the same kind of daily oral care that people do—just think of all the brushing, flossing and mouth washes you do in a day! So it’s safe to say that dog and cat mouths are dirty.
This is why your veterinarian doesn’t want your pet licking their own wounds. The bacteria in your pet’s mouth can actually make a wound more infected and harder to heal.
That may leave you wondering why more owners aren’t getting sick from germy pet kisses. The answer has to do with our awesome immune system. People with a healthy immune system can usually (but not always) fight off these germs. However, the risk of disease is much higher in people who have compromised immune systems. That is why babies, pregnant women, elderly owners and people living with cancer, HIV, diabetes or other chronic immune-suppressing conditions should avoid face kisses from their pet friends.
Really, sharing smooches with pets is not the healthiest habit for anyone. But what if sweet kisses from your beloved pet are the best part of your day? Here are a few things you can do to lower the risk of infection of puckering up with your pet:
Easily keep up with your pet’s dental cleanings with a CareClub® personalized pet health care plan.
