Veterinarians always advice their clients to avoid letting your pets lick the face. There are numerous parasites and bacteria possibly present in pet saliva that may adversely affect human health. The mouth and the intestines of pets harbour bacteria and parasites that can be transmitted to humans and cause a range of medical conditions. But, new research suggests that dog intestinal bacteria may have a protective role against asthma in children. So, the question arises: Is pet saliva a health hazard or benefit? The answer is probably both.
Affection between humans and their pets is not uncommon. However, what is common is the lack of education surrounding animal saliva, its bacteria, and it impact on both humans and pets. Routine veterinary care and simple sanitary practices can reduce fears that your pet’s lick is a family health risk.
The benefits of pet saliva
Recent research has identified products in saliva that indeed aid in healing.
- Researchers in the Netherlands identified a chemical in pet saliva called histatins which speed wound healing by promoting the spread and migration of new skin cells.
- Dr. Nigel Benjamin of the London School of Medicine has shown that when saliva contacts skin it creates nitric oxide. Nitric oxide inhibits bacterial growth and protects wounds from infection.
- Researchers at the University of Florida isolated a protein in saliva called Nerve Growth Factor that halves the time for wound healing.
Dog saliva helps prevent canine cavities
The saliva found in the mouth of dogs is better suited to prevent cavities in comparison to human saliva. The saliva of dogs and carnivores in general is slightly alkaline, around 7.5 to 8. The significance of that is that dogs do not get dental cavities nearly as frequently as humans. The slightly alkaline nature of dog saliva buffers the acids that are produced by some bacteria that are the cause of enamel of the tooth being eroded.
Saliva helps dogs with digestion
There are no digestive enzymes (amylase) present in the saliva of dogs. It is purely designed to get the food down into the stomach so the digestive process can start. In fact unlike people, dogs don’t have to chew their food to mix in the saliva and start the digestive process. A dog’s stomach and intestines can do all the necessary work. The pure, simple function of dog saliva is to move food down the esophagus.
Dog saliva is antibacterial
Dog saliva does contain chemicals. You often see dogs licking wounds and that is a cleansing action and an antibacterial action to promote the healing of a superficial wound. Of course licking won’t cure all superficial infections in dogs, so veterinary visits are still necessary.
Dog kisses may transfer bacteria to humans
Just because dog saliva has antibacterial properties does not mean that dog kisses are clean. It’s possible for bacteria to be transferred from pets to humans. One study published in Oral Biology in 2012 found that there can be a transmission of periodontopathic species of bacteria between dogs and their owners.
