Face licking - Unhealthy?

Question
Hi Karen,
My 7 mth old English Lab loves to lick my 5 and 3 yr old sons faces clean after they eat.  Have you ever heard of any sicknesses caused by this?? Is it safe or should I try to correct this behavior?

Thanks,

Jared

Answer
No, this really is not a good habit to encourage. Just think of what body part you saw that dog's tongue cleaning last! EEEEUUUUUWWWWWW!

While few diseases can be transmitted back and forth between dogs and humans, there are a few things that can be, or can be picked up from the dogs fur/skin if they have come in contact with it. Dogs can carry streptococcus, Clostridium difficile, MRSA, Salmonella, E. coli and Giardia. They can also share internal parasites, so it is important that they have stool checks done twice a year... particularly with small children in the family who put everything into their mouths.

One of my dogs went to live with a man who was on the heart-transplant list, and who eventually did get a new heart. My dog was a face-licker, and the man, who loved that, had to encourage the dog to lick his arm instead... Doctor's orders! I never let my dogs lick my face (although some of them try), but they are allowed to lick arms, hands, etc., as much as they want. Lots of hand-washing going on around here! LOL!

The kids should be learning to wash their faces and hands before and after eating, and hands after playing with the dog.