Is It Ok For A Dog To Lick A Child?

It is ok. Actually dogs have cleaner mouths than humans so it is actually cleaner than you kissing your baby. BEWARE however, there are bacteria in a dog's mouth that may be very bad for our well being.

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Dogs lick people to show their affection and it could be a pleasure sometimes for the person too. However, with children one has to be extra careful. Care should be taken to ensure that the dog is not suffering from some disease, in which case it could be transmitted to the child. If there is an open wound on the child's body it could happen with ease.

Children, who play outside, often fall or hurt themselves with small gashes and the skin is open in these areas. An open wound is quite susceptible to bacteria of all kinds. Hence, extra care and hygiene should be exercised for dogs that are in vicinity of children.

Moreover, all children do not have the same immunity. If a child suffers from allergies of any kind, dogs should not be allowed to play or lick the child. Also a dog should not be encouraged to lick a child's face as the dog's saliva may come in contact with the child's mouth and germs could be transmitted which should be avoided under every circumstance.

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The myth that a dog's mouth is cleaner than a human's is urban legend. As we all know, dogs aren't particularly fussy about where they put their tongues or what goes into their mouths. "A dog's mouth contains a lot of bacteria," notes Dr. Gary "Ask the Vet" Clemons. "Remember, a dog's tongue is not only his wash cloth but also his toilet paper." Truth is, oral bacteria are so species-specific that one can't be considered cleaner than the other, just different.

Better not to risk introducing dog mouth bacteria to your baby—what is harmless bacteria in the mouth of a dog can prove harmful to humans,and vice versa.

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