What Every Mother Should Know About Letting A Dog Lick Her Babies Face

The sweet kisses that look like affection, may just be your dogs way of asserting dominance over your child.

A Puppy Trying To Lick A Babies Face - 3MillionDogs

While it’s no secret that dogs may be carrying a lot of germs from consuming raw meat to sniffing other dogs, there is actually another reason why you should never let a dog lick your babies face and it has to do with dominance. Veterinarian Dr. Thomas Kass reveals that although it may appear as affection when your dog licks your baby, the dog is possibly just displaying dominance over the child, which could lead to problems in the future.

A Risk Of Salmonella

Kass also adds that if a dog is eating a raw meat diet they could be exposed to salmonella, which they could then pass on to your child. Marc I. Leavey, M.D., primary care specialist at Lutherville Personal Physician, acknowledges that “studies have confirmed this exposure, and it can lead to mouth and gum infections, or even systemic infections.” On the rare occasion, worms may also be passed on from the canine to the human.

Puppy Licking Feeding Baby | 3MillionDogs

Dogs can pass on germs and worms when they lick the babies face.

: Dogs can pass on germs and worms when they lick the babies face.

: A dog may be licking a babies face to assert its dominance.

Offer Your Hand

Dr. Ashanti W. Woods, a Mercy Medical Center paediatrician elaborated on the consequences of letting your dog lick your baby by saying that “the pet may become protective over the owners and attempt to defend them by attacking the child for yelling or merely playing with his parents.” So in order to keep your dog submissive to your child and avoid potential problems in the future it is important to put an end to kisses. Dr. leavey suggests, “When poochie wants to smooch, offer your hand—and then wash it thoroughly before doing anything else.”