Dog germs may be good for you

U-T SanDiego.com ^ | March 17, 2015 | Bradley J. Fikes

[Daffynition]

When Fido drags his saliva-drenched tongue across your face, man's best friend may be doing you a microbial favor as well as showing affection.

People are being recruited for a study of whether living with a canine improves the human microbiome. The study is led by University of Arizona researchers along with other universities, including UC San Diego.

"We essentially want to find out, is a dog acting like yogurt in having a probiotic effect?" said Kim Kelly, one of the study leaders, in a press release. Kelly is also a principal research specialist at the University of Arizona in the Department of Psychiatry and program coordinator for the Human-Animal Interaction Research Initiative.

[Daffynition]

OK, I'm drawing the line.

[Daffynition]

[Daffynition]

OK.....there are exceptions......

[dayglored]

What about kitteh kisses?

[21twelve]

Our dog knows not to “kiss”. I’ll get in his face and tempt him making smaking noises with my mouth. His tongue gets going too.

Every once in awhile his tongue will give a glancing blow to my face and he stops and looks down all ashamed. Then I make sure he knows it’s no big deal and give him some more pats on the head.

I’m guessing just living in the same house with a dog, petting them, etc. you pick up enough of their germs.

[Slyfox]

Is there something in dog’s saliva that de-activates e coli?

[upchuck]

Must be in a really nice part of town:

The boarded-up windows...

The ivy growth...

The NO TRESPASSING sign...

[Daffynition]

Detroit? I dunno......where would you most likely need a Dobie?

[Daffynition]

Of course, that's only fair....if'n you like sandpaper kisses. :)

[upchuck]

From the article:

One of the paradoxes of modern times is that despite the era's unprecedented cleanliness, allergies and inflammatory diseases have increased.

Our bodies have a built in resistance to disease. The "unprecedented cleanliness" fad discourages this resistance, IMHO.

[antceecee]

Adorable!

[Michael.SF.]

Funny you post that.

That dog could be mine (if it was a little smaller), she is a sweetheart and loves to play. Yet when I or my wife walk her, people coming our way cross the street.

We like that!

[Paladin2]

The close proximity to the railroad indicates that libs could quickly turn it into a desireable place with public fixed rail transit.....

[867V309]

All-in-all I suspect kissing a dog who ate cat poop is more healthy than eating tofurkey.

[SoCal Pubbie]

It’s only good for you when the dog licks it’s butt right before kissing you.

[chris37]

Hah!

I’ll buy one of those :)

[LegendHasIt]

It was known at least 35 years ago that dog saliva can promote faster healing of wounds on humans.

[BigEdLB]

Line? This is normal at my house... Two large standard poodles, one a cousin of Duck Dynasty Cooper... Dog slobber is good.

[matt1234]

[Daffynition]

Kids today....aren't allowed to play in the *dirt* or make mud pies.....and heaven forbid that they put it in their mouth! That would be a trip to the ER!