Is your dog very cute? Beware of affectionate licks – Evening Edition Ouest-France – 02/11/2022

Dogs like to show their affection to their masters at times with slightly drooling tongues… But beware, a dog’s saliva can be dangerous due to the germs and bacteria it contains, particularly Capnocytophaga canimorsus.

It is common for dogs to show their affection for their master with great licking … some owners even sometimes accept that their four-legged friend licks their faces. A true “kiss” is one of man’s best companions… however, it is usually not without health risks. “I recommend avoiding licking dogs, We were explained in 2018 by Claude Guigouin, former head of the Department of Parasitology at the University Hospital Rennes (Ille-et-Vilaine). It carries bacteria, viruses and parasites. The risks are very real because the dog carries in its mouth between 30 and 40 germs! »

Among these bacteria Capnocytophaga canimorsus. In a video posted on August 8, 2022, which became very popular at the beginning of October with more than two million views, a user of the social network TikTok, known under the pseudonym medexplained2you, highlights the potential problems that can arise from this type of infection.

@medexplained2you beward dog owners! #fyp #foryou #foryoupage #dog #medical #medicine #doctor #dr #nurse #pa #dogs #pet #pets ♬ L $ d – Luclover

Capnocytophaga canimorsusWhat is it ?

Capnocytophaga canimorsus It is a bacteria that lives in the mouths of dogs and cats. If these animals do not get sick, then in rare cases they can, It is transmitted to humans by bites, scratches, or close contact with a dog or cat. Identify the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). According to a study conducted by the Brest Regional University Hospital Center (Finistere), published in 2018 in the journal Medicine and Infectious Diseases In France, this bacterium was the cause of three deaths between February 2017 and April 2018.

And recently, in June 2022, a new study conducted in France for ten years was published in the specialized journal European Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. Thanks to this new work, scientists were able to identify 44 cases of infection Capnocytophaga CanemorsFortunately, it is a very rare disease. we Genevieve Herre-Arnaud, Research Professor of Bacteriology (CHRU in Brest – University of Western Brittany) and lead author of the study identifies it. The specialist also refers only to that 15% of cases were caused by dog ​​licking.

What are the symptoms?

The first symptoms that appear are similar to those of a flu-like condition: high fever, vomiting and/or shivering. This infection Capnocytophaga canimorsus It may cause tissue necrosis and thrombosis, infections of the heart valves or other endocarditis, as well as meningitis.

The patient may then develop Severe sepsis, i.e. a serious infection that spreads in the body through the bloodstream, Genevieve describes Heri-Arno. Symptoms that in some cases, “very rare”can cause death.

Read also: Why do our pets make us sick

How do you protect yourself from it?

“From there to say you should never ‘lick’ is too generalizing…However, In certain cases it is necessary to avoid the occurrence of this behavior with dogs, Genevieve Heri-Arno adds. I suspect Especially for people with weakened immune systems, such as diabetics, immunocompromised patients, people with HIV or even very heavy smokers and those who drink a lot of alcohol.And the The specialist lists.

The microbiologist also insists that you should wash your hands well “After every contact with the dog’s saliva and more than that if there is a wound ». If a dog bites you or licks a skin wound, stay alert for infection within 48 to 72 hours. Antibiotic treatment will then be necessary.