TikTok can be a very educational place, whether it’s hacks, tips, tricks, warnings, or even, sometimes, medical advice. Of course, your medical advice should come from your own doctor, but it can be interesting to see what medical experts are warning against online in order to do your own research — especially when it’s about something as common as kissing your dog on the mouth.
Kissing our pets on the mouth is a controversial subject.
For some people, the right to give our dogs a little kissy-kissy when they’re just being the cutest little puppy in the whole world is one that they’re not going to give up lightly.
For others, the whole idea seems a little bit… gross. I’ve seen the kind of things my dog eats. I don’t need my mouth going next to theirs.
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According to one physician’s assistant on TikTok, it looks like the second group might have a point.
“If you kiss your dog on the mouth because if so it’s time to stop,” explained @medexplained2you on TikTok. “You could actually lose your limbs over it.”
“Kissing your dog on the mouth can actually cause an infection of something called capnocytophaga canimorsus,” he explained.
Don’t worry, he explained it in plain English too.
“This is a serious illness that can cause widespread systemic infection, septic shock, and even gangrene and depending how fast it progresses and when it’s diagnosed,” he said.
The treatment for this infection is pretty severe.
“Amputation may become the only treatment,” he revealed. “Why not avoid all that trouble and just stop kissing your dog? Seems like an easy fix to me,” he explained.
The CDC backs him up on this one.
“Rarely, Capnocytophaga germs can spread to people through bites, scratches, or close contact from a dog or cat and may cause illness, including sepsis,” they explain .
But the overall risk is pretty low.
“Most people who have contact with a dog or cat do not become sick. People with a weakened immune systems who have difficulty fighting off infections (for example, people with cancer or those taking certain medications such as steroids) are at greater risk of becoming ill.”
The people in @medexplained2you’s comments seemed to think the risk was worth it.
“Worth the risk,” one commenter wrote , while another added, “I don’t need this kind of negativity in my life.”
“I’ve kissed a few dogs in my time but not the 4-legged kind,” joked one commenter.
“Also happens when picking up a rando from Tinder,” warned another.
“44 years and counting. I’ll take my chances, but thanks,” wrote one pet lover, and another one shared, “Nah, I’m just gonna have to take that risk. That’s my son.”
What do you think? Are you done kissing your dog on the mouth, or will you take the risk?
