Is A Dog’s Mouth Cleaner Than A Person’s? Dog Trainers in Northern Virginia
We all have heard the saying that a dog’s mouth is cleaner than a human’s mouth. While it’s a common saying, it is simply untrue. There are a few reasons that this myth has floated around for so long.
At one time, studies were showing that human bites became infected at a faster rate than dog bites. Modern researchers have proven that this is not true. All bites, human and animals, have the same infection rates.
Dogs lick their wounds; some people believed that this meant their mouth had some sort of healing property. This is untrue as well. There are no antiseptic or healing properties in their saliva. The reason a dog licks their wound is to remove any dead tissue; this makes the healing process faster.
If you own a dog, you understand that dogs lick everything. They use their tongues as toilet paper as well as a bath. It’s pointless for scientists to compare the bacteria in a dog’s mouth to a human’s mouth. The strains of bacteria each mouth will have is totally different. There would be no way to accurately compare the two.
The Good News
There is bacteria in dogs’ mouths; they can have dental problems. There are tons of products in stores today to reduce dental problems for dogs such as dog toothbrushes. This is a good practice for preventative maintenance.
The chances of getting sick from dog saliva is very slim. Dogs and humans have different bacteria; chances are slim that one will transmitted that can make a human ill. There is a larger chance of getting sick from kissing another human than a dog.
If you want more information about your dog, behavior, or training: contact Off Leash K9 Training!
-Nick White
Owner/Founder
Off Leash K9 Training
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