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It's rare, but some pet owners have contracted life-threatening infections from caring closely for their animals at the end of life, a report shows.
Comforting dying pets through their last days turned out to be dangerous for animal owners who wound up with life-threatening infections from the close contact, a new report finds.
A dog owner who licked honey from the dropper she used to feed her pooch, and two cat owners who cuddled and kissed their kitties for days were hospitalized with respiratory illnesses linked to common bacteria the pets harbor in their mouths.
The case studies, reported in the latest issue of the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases, highlight the rare hazards of animal intimacy in a country where nine in 10 owners regard pets as members of the family, says the study’s lead author.
“I suspect this happens more often than we know,” said Dr. Joseph Myers, chairman of the department of medicine at Summa Akron City Hospital in Akron, Ohio. “It’ll put it on the radar so that doctors will ask about it.”
Myers believes he’s the first to report cases of Pasteurella multocida infections associated with palliative care by owners of dying pets. It’s rare, of course, but it was striking to encounter three such incidents all within a year, he said.
Typically, P. multocida bacteria live in the mouths of 80 percent of cats and about 60 percent of dogs, Myers said. The bacteria lurk in the oral cavities of many wild and domesticated animals. They’re usually passed along through bites, scratches or other unfriendly behavior, and are the most common cause of skin infections from such animal-related injuries.
It's not clear exactly how many infections occur each year, though health experts at the University of California at Los Angeles note that only about 5 percent of dog bites and 30 percent of cat bites become infected.
The infections can occur through normal affectionate interaction with animals, the routine licking or kissing that some pets and owners can't resist, Myers said. Babies, the elderly and people with compromised immune systems are most at risk because their immune systems can't fight infections as well.
In the cases of the three pet owners in the study, all women in their 50s or 60s, they were previously healthy, but Myers suspects that the sustained close contact simply increased their chances of infection.
The bacteria targeted their respiratory tracts, attacking one woman’s epiglottis, another’s uvula and the lungs of the third.
They showed up at hospital emergency rooms reporting fever, chills, sore and swollen throats and difficulty swallowing and breathing. Quick administration of antibiotics helped, and all three got better within days.
The tricky part was figuring out what caused the unusual bacterial infections. It took careful questioning on the part of doctors to determine that the transmission had come through such close pet care. The pet owners weren't available for interviews, but Myers' study offered details of how they likely became sick.
In the case of the dog, “the patient had co-consumed honey with the dog by licking the same dropper used to comfort-feed the dog,” the report said.
Another patient “continuously held, caressed, hugged and kissed her cat during the last seven days of its life.” The third “had provided palliative care to her dying cat by holding, hugging and kissing the head of the cat and allowing the cat to lick her hands and arms.”
That doesn’t surprise Anthony J. Smith, a veterinarian who runs Rainbow Bridge Vet Services, a pet hospice and palliative services business in Hercules, Calif.
In a country where two-thirds of households have pets and nine in 10 owners say they regard them as family members, according to a 2011 Harris poll, it makes sense to care for the animals at the end of life.
More pet owners -- Smith calls them “pet parents” -- are seeking to make their pets' deaths more comfortable and meaningful, even when they can’t prevent them.
“There’s a general increase in the closeness between people and their pets,” said Smith, who treated 1,000 pet clients in the past two years. “They’re wanting the same kind of services that they want for their human family members.”
Smith, who helped co-found the International Association of Animal Hospice and Palliative Care, understands the urge to closely care for pets and he doesn’t want people to avoid physical contact with their animals. Still, he advises common sense.
“When you start licking your cat or dog or you start sharing utensils with your dog, you put yourself at risk for those things,” he said. “Those probably weren’t the best ideas from a human health perspective.”
Myers, the doctor who wrote the study, agreed. “I would not recommend that.”
But even Myers admitted the cases haven’t altered how he cares for his three dogs.
Would it have changed the behavior of the women who got sick?
“I don’t think so,” Myers said. “These pets are so ingrained into the family.”
Related:
More dogs sick as FDA steps up scrutiny of chicken jerky pet treats
Leave a Comment:
Some people with pets need help.
I've always wondered when I see a person allowing a dog to lick their faces what the fallout might be. Maybe another source of lung ailments. Doctors should ask their patients.
blackbird,
Do a little research please. You just might find out that a dogs' mouth is actually CLEANER then YOUR mouth.
wakehead,
From your comment it is apparent you just do not understand or can express love. Me thinks you are the one who needs professional help.
I love my pets and treat them as members of my family. If they can fit on the bed without taking over and pushing my husband and I out of bed, they are welcome. They do not have fleas or ticks and are relatively clean, so no problem. I have also had to euthanize two dogs (severe arthritis) and a cat (chronic renal failure). These diseases are not transmittable. I was with them when I adopted them and I was damn well going to be there when they were put to sleep.
However, I do not kiss my dogs or cats, nor do I allow them to lick me anywhere near my face. They really want to and it has happened occasionally - I'm like Lucy in the Charlie Brown comics, "Ewww! Dog germs!" - but I'm not a believer that a dog's (or cat's) mouth is cleaner than a human's. I'm glad this study came out, as I can't believe the extent that pet owners allow their pets to lick them inside their mouths. This is just gross. You never know where a dog's tongue has been, has always been my motto.
I have always had a phobia about drinking or eating after a human, also, and know that many mothers drink out of the same glass as their kids. This is also gross and invites nothing but trouble, especially since they are always coming down with viruses and transmittable diseases from other kids and don't always follow the rules of hygiene.
My pets know they are loved and probably just think I'm weird for not letting them lick me, but they are animals and don't know the whats, whys, and wherefores. Plus, maybe there are germs, viruses and diseases they can get from humans? I'd like to see a study on that.
Richard,
Please post links to websites which state dog's mouths are cleaner than human mouths. I did some research of my own and everything I found clearly states that it is a fallacy.
"A dog owner who licked honey from the dropper she used to feed her pooch, and two cat owners who cuddled and kissed their kitties for days were hospitalized with respiratory illnesses linked to common bacteria the pets harbor in their mouths."
"Two people who licked the bottles they fed their sick babies with got life-threatening infections." This article is as dumb as the people in it.
Wakehead I think you are the one who needs help.
And amen Richard and Kristi.
When you bring a pet into your home it is for life (or should be). And that means right up to the end.
I lost my beloved Lucy this last winter, and I had her euthanized at home while I held her in my arms.
As much as I love them I do not eat from their bowls or kiss them on the mouth. Anymore than I would walk up to a stranger and do such things.
I think common sense must prevail. Unfortunately - there doesn't seem to be much of that going around these days...
Richard-3165941
A little research is a good idea. Remember humans clean their teeth (well most do) reducing the bacterial load considerably in comparison to he dog oral cavity. So we have in that case a less "dirty" mouth in sheer bacterial numbers. Secondly and more importantly the bacteria normally found in the dog's mouth differ to those normally found in the human mouth.
The key word here is normally, our mouths are home to a healthy normal community of bacteria which our bodies see as friendly or at least tolerate and can control, most bacteria in the dog's mouth are not normally associated with humans and introduction of these bacteria from the dog to the human is more likely to cause infection.
QED: Dog's mouths are dirtier than humans.
Advice: Don't let a dog lick your face.
Not near as much as those without pets need.
i've been getting doggy kisses for 17 yrs. i don't care if i get sick from them (doubt i have). i DO know i get sick from the germs my students give me.
the thought of NOT comforting an animal when it's dying is beyond cruel to me.
Nothing wrong with comforting and caring for a dying animal. There is something wrong with kissing or licking a spoon that had been used on said animal. Common sense says you don't lick or kiss on the mouth a dying person, so don't do it with a pet. Nothing wrong with comforting or caring or loving, as to mouths and bacteria, well, guess what? Bacteria is everywhere, when dying the immune system that controls said bacteria is also dying then the bacteria will proliferate. That is a primary cause of decomposition.
Sadly, common sense seems to become more uncommon by the day.
Simple observation - Dogs and cats lick their anus' after going to the bathroom ergo I would not let my dog or cat lick my face.
krestov,
Not arguing about different bacteria in a dogs' mouth but the fact still remains that a dogs' mouth is still cleaner then a humans' mouth. As far as normal goes - I doubt that humans really keep their mouths all that clean. I would bet that most people brush their teeth perhaps once or at most twice a day (some even use mouth wash also). That won't keep the bacteria count down as much as you think since they most likely brush before eating breakfast, not at all after lunch (and certainly not use mouth wash after lunch) and then before bedtime. A lot of time for bacteria to grow.
People are weird about their pets. Creatures are independent, living beings that humans treat as objects with a little personality (Note Mitt and Seamus). Right now, I have pets, two cats, both rescues. I don't treat them like my children, I treat them like a couple of beings that have decided to throw in with me. I don't get kissy-face with them. I take responsibility for providing a place where they can be healthy and live as naturally as they prefer. One likes to be petted a lot, the other doesn't. I prefer they stay out of my bedroom (actually, my home entirely), so I make sure there are other comfortable places for them to sleep. While I do have my cats inside a lot, it's because I can do that and keep a clean place. If I could afford to make them their own comfortable housing, I would.
We relate to each other, they meow for various things, some times play, sometimes want to get petted and stroked. When they get sick or hurt, I actually nurse them, I keep everything I use for them sterile, like a vet would. Duh!
People are just delusional about animals from all the misrepresentations in stories, movies, cartoons, etc. If you are stupid enough to lick an animal (or even most humans), you probably deserve what you get.......clearly we need to get much more educated....instead of focusing on contraceptives and unionized workers, abortion and personal religion, we could do with more science, math, literature, history, economics, technology, art, music, archeology, anthropology etc.
mythbusters proved that a dogs mouth has less bacteria than a humans mouth. problem is tho, is the bacteria that they do have can be deadly to humans if not careful.
Krestov:
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1524/are-dog-mouths-cleaner-than-human-mouths
and also:
A dog's mouth is cleaner than a human's.
Plausible
The sample collected from Adam's mouth had much more bacterial growth than the sample collected from Lulu the dog. Jamie suggested, however, that the bacteria from the dog may be more potent.
From the Mythbuster Wikipedia page.
So while you are wrong in the specific you are right in the general. Dogs have much less bacteria in their mouths when cared for correctly and given things like raw hide bones to chew on. These in effect clean their teeth, there are also tooth brushes for dogs but I think that goes a bit far, like clothes.
However, as you stated, the bacteria is different and could be much worse then the bacteria found in abundance in our own mouths.
@NC it depends how long the pet is with you and when the pet was bought. I had my first dog when I was six and she lived a fairly long time for the breed, eighteen years; miniature schnauzers expectancy is between 13 and 15 years and the most common reasons of death is dementia and renal failure . When you grow up with a pet you form a different kind of relationship then if you just buy one from a kennel, I think anyone that grew up with a pet, meaning that you and the pet were both kids in relative terms of age, could tell you something similar.
I HATE scare tactics. My Bostone Terrier recently got so sick at the age of 14. I was by her side trying everything. She was my baby. Eventually I had to put her to sleep with her right in my arms. I would not change anything in the world. I gave her one last kiss on her nose. I now have a rescue Boston Terrier that I am so in love with. Dogs rule..... Personally I don't like a person that does not like dogs.... It just turns out that way.
It is a chance I'm willing to take! Oh, and those so called pithy remarks here on this sight about (and I'm paraphrasing) "wacko pet owners".... we are capable of great empathy and love and almost as great as that which is given us by our pets! I would rather kiss a domesticated Rat then some of these callous, puerile... what passes for Humans who make these inane remarks.
Misleading headline, to say the least. "Cuddling" dying pets did not lead to illness. Anyone that would let a loyal pet die without some hands on reassurance at the end shouldn't have a pet.
My (surviving) companion animal, Simon Rattle the Cat, was 19 in December. He seems to have had at least one small stroke event or perhaps he has feline Alzheimer's. He is continent, but confused and frail. I cuddle and hand feed him. He sleeps near me and if he wants to kiss/lick me he does. All of my adopted dogs and cats and rodents have done this all their lives right up to their deaths. They are/were my kids and their comfort is more important than my risk. I will deal with an infection. It is not in my mind, no matter what the species of my family member. I have to say that I would not exchange medicine droppers or food utensils between or among any of us, ever. This is something I wouldn't do between or among my own species at any time. This is just plain silly behavior. It is simple species-ist bigotry to say that my family can consist only of Homo sapiens sapiens. This piece borders on the species-ist in that it could incite prejudice in the already ignorant - just look at some of the responses. Do not tell me which species are worthy of my devotion!!!
I'll happily stand by my previous statement, people who brush their teeth regularly do not experience the regrowth of oral bacteria back to a native population number. This is even more marked in people who clean their tongue and use mouth wash. Therefore if you clean your teeth your bacterial load is lower than that of your dog.
The myth buster episode is one I have not seen, I wish I had, from what I read they took a swab and placed it in an incubator. Several problems. This was a one dog one human test and did they test for bacteria which grow without oxygen, this is where the dog out strips the human many-times over.
The fact is the dog oral cavity contains many more bacteria that are harmful to humans than does a normal human oral cavity. This is what is important when we say something is "dirtier".
For example yogurt contains billions of bacteria but we don't refer it to being dirtier than pasteurized milk. The pasteurized milk may inadvertently accidentally contain 100 campylobacter cells which can cause disease. In my book the pasteurized milk (in my example) is "dirtier" with its 100 dangerous bacteria than the yogurt with its billions of friendly bacteria.
Lets just be specific about this stuff. Most bacteria in the dogs mouth are species specific. The odds of them passing to a human are very low. Also on the same token, because they are species specific that means when they do pass to humans the human body doesn't know what to do.
Lets just use some common sense. Don't go around kissing random dogs.
Yep, the whole "dogs' mouths are cleaner" thing has been discredited.
But this story, as with many others in the media, is misleading. The infections didn't come from cuddling the pets. It was from mouth to mouth contact or sharing utensils. I've had to have pets put down before, and I have always held them until they were gone. I just don't kiss them on the mouth. But the kind of people who share utensils with their dog are probably the same people who don't wash their hands after using the restroom.
Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe also did a human mouth vs. dog mouth study. A Health Inspector with a special meter had Mike like one side of a piece of glass and the dog lick the other side of the glass. The inspector then swabbed both locations and inserted them into a machine. The machine spit out the results... the dogs mouth had less bacteria than Mike Rowe's did. The guy said with the amount/type is Mike's mouth, he could shut down a restaurant for being a safety concern for the customers. Soooo either Mike Rowe doesn't brush or we have dirty mouths.
As they say, timing is everything.
Even as I respond to this 'article', I am nursing 2 beloved cats through their final weeks on the planet. One has contained mammary tumors. My precious Tig's condition is not so straightforward. I hug, cuddle, and kiss both of them as I always have. When encouraging them to eat, I present what I hope is tempting on my fingers. I do not then put my fingers in my mouth.
By the same token, when my daughter had chicken pox, I cuddled, hugged, and kissed her. I promptly washed my hands with soap and water after caring for her. btw ordinary soap is sufficient for this; 'anti-bacterial' is creating monster bacteria.
Now, for a little reality orientation. Those of you who believe our love for our companion animals makes us odd or is evidence of mis-placed values need to research the founding of the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children. It is the off-spring of the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. In late 19th century NYC, Mary Ellen Wilson was an abused child without an advocate until her plight was brought to the attention of the ASPCA's founder Henry Bergh. After saving her, Mr. Bergh and his attorney Elbridge Gerry expanded their work to include children since no one else would stand as their advocate. Despite a city full of churches and fledgling social work, children living in abuse were ignored. . . except by those with truly excellent values.
flbikerchick.......... not only do I let my dogs lick off the same spoon as me, or lick me on the face/give me a kiss, I also wash my hands after I go into/out of a bathroom. I have yet to get sick from my dogs and I have done this for as long as I can remember. The story also reads that children and the elderly should not allow a sick pet to lick them just because of the possibility of not being able to fight off any infections without drug assistance. Whatever... it doesn't matter... I will continue to do this with any pet I own until the day I die.
I think it depends on your definition of dirty. Let's remember that most dogs eat things that we wouldn't touch; thus, they may carry more bacteria in their mouths than most humans. However, dogs don't typically carry the same types of viruses and other diseases that humans do. Haven't heard of many people catching a cold or the flu from their pet.
I seems obvious to me that we need to start requiring all pet stores to affix the following label to every pet:
That should solve the problem.
My heart goes out to the nearly tens of people afflicted by this tragedy every year in this country.
It is bad enough when the media et al are working to get the people to "hate" on each other. This is one step more, designed to keep people from loving their pets. I do not believe this for a moment. I question just how healthy the three women were who had to be treated in the hospital" " they were not available for comments...." and why not?
humbug. i've shared bits of food with my (indoor) cats all my life. i had a cat who loved dairy as much as i do, and drank milk from my glass. she lived to be 19, and i am rarely sick. anyway, the women in the story got well within days, with ordinary antibiotics. much ado about nothing.
When your dog or cat is dying over a period of time it is far more humane to just put them out of their misery. I understand that the shot the vet gives can (and usually does) causes great pain from a lack of carefully injecting in the vein properly making the animal suffer for a few hours.
This can be solved by shooting the dog or cat in the head with a high power gun. Death is instantanous. There is no suffering. When I put my last dog down, he seemed relieved when he saw the rifle.
I wonder if the peoples' immune systems were temporarily compromised by the stress and grief of having a dying pet. I wouldn't be at all surprised.
A couple days of sickness? Totally worth it, and this is coming from someone without a pet (and wants to adopt one).
There are plenty of wonderful Siamese cats up for adoption at va.siameserescue.org
Peter (who is owned by his Siamese cats) <grin>
So true Alex,
and so far I've only gotten sick from peoples germs!
Alex there are plenty of adoptable siamese cats at www.va.siameserescue.org
They tend to be "little people" in fur coats personality wise.
Peter (slave to his siamese cats <grin>)
That is a good point, rkaralius. Also, what brought this on, no? If this is really a problem I would think one would have had this discussion a long time ago and warned every pet owner about the imminent danger of dog kisses.
Blown out of proportion, I think.
If anyone would get sick it would be me. BUT I have not. I love dogs and have had many. I treat them as my children. Even the big dogs. I got licks all of the time and trust me they were truly giving me kisses. THey got hugs from me several times a day. My Boston of 14 years got so sick in the end and I babied her right up until the day I had her put to sleep in my arms. RUBBISH article and study!
All of my cats have been strays or abandoned babies. They seem to find me even when I'm not looking. One of the best was already terminally sick when we found her but she made a huge impression on us in a short time. We now have a 6-week old puppy we found across the street in a rain storm at 2 weeks. So tiny and helpless but he licks everything.
Alex, if you open your heart for a pet, the universe will send you one to fill it to overflowing.
And yes, I kiss my cats and they hug me back.
As an animal is dying all sort of metabolic changes occur including the immune system shutting down. It makes perfect sense that a person could contract something from a dying animal.
Your little furry friends are not humans that understand why they're in pain, they only know they hurt. The humane thing to do would be to euthanize them if they're suffering.
Funny.. I have 8 pets and cuddle, kiss them, sleep w /them all the time and I've never come down a /anything. Maybe that's because we all have pretty healthy immune systems, eat healthy and regularly take supplements and eat foods that are naturally anti-biotic and anti-viral...like raw apple cider vinegar (which goes in my pets food and drinking water ), raw virgin coconut oil, neem oil, tea tree oil, garlic, grapefruitseed extract. Cuts the chances of catching anything pretty low. No one in this house has been sick in years...not even a sniffle. That goes for all the animals too. One thing I DON'T do and no one should ever do is eat from the same utensils you feed your pets from... and that mostly has to do w/FOOD BORNE illness .... e coli, salmonella, etc.
Only a dog would appreciate licking its azz then licking your face. Jokes on us folks.
We have had five dogs. Rule number one for our kid has always been, keep your mouth off the dog! I love my dogs when they die I wail like a baby. But nothing that licks its own @ss and genitals is licking me.
I agree with rkaralius about the stress of seeing a loved one through the dying process lowering the caregiver's immunity(as well as making them more vulnerable to accidents during that time due to being preoccupied and sleep deprived.)
Another factor could be higher concentrations of pathogens in a dying animal's mouth since the animal isn't able to drink as much as they would if they were able bodied.
Your more likely to get an infection at Brad's Gold Club??
"Pet parents?' How silly and disrespectful. I love my pets very much and I am proud to be their owner. BTW, all this 'pets can make you sick" is part of the PeTA and friends push to outlaw pet ownership. If you don't believe me spend a little time with goggle.
Three cases in Akron--which is a huge city ( larger than Dayton) out of how many sick animals that are held daily? I say that people just need to use common sense--don't share eating utensils, don't let your animal lick your mouth....but beyond that hold them while they pass. One of the best gifts on earth is a pet that you really truly share a spiritual bond with.
I love my cats but I would never kiss them.
I kiss my cat every day, and all of my cats before her, and have never gotten sick. I will always kiss my cat, whether she's sick or not.
I kiss my cats, too, but not on the mouth. Just the tops of their heads. I would never kiss an animal on the mouth, not only because I might catch something from the animal, but also because the animal might catch something from me.
I seems obvious to me that we need to start requiring all pet stores to affix the following label to every pet:
That should solve the problem.
My heart goes out to the nearly tens of people afflicted by this tragedy every year in this country.
LOL well said.
What scared me was that the article mentioned "licking your pets" and "sharing utensils with your pets". WTF??? Who licks their pets????
To be fair. I totally shared food with my pets when I was a little kid, including a popscicle I shared with my dog. Obviously older and wiser I'd not do the same but I'm sure the ages and emotional state of the people involved was a big factor.
Also, seriously who licks their pet?
Common sense is definitely missing from many people.
This article/finding is rediculous.
Common sense is missing from the people who wrote this article or those who made the study. There is a HUGE difference between holding and cuddling your beloved pet as he or she is dying, and licking something off a dropper that went into your pet's mouth.
And gee, I can't think of the last time I stuck my tongue into my pets' mouths.
I guess the opposite alternative is to become like those who drop their animals off at their vets to be euthanized alone, or even worse, who drop them off at the shelters to be killed by country employees.
"This article/finding is 'rediculous"
Priceless.
My mom needs to read this article, but since she considers her cats like two daughters, it most likely won't make a difference. :)
ewww licking your pets? I love my animals but yeah I would never lick them or share eating utensils that's just wrong and gross.
I have an aunt who would share an ice cream cone with her dog. Yeah, she's a bit on the nutty side in general. I love my pets but I'll stick to hugs.
lol inmissouri you and me both! I want share a drink or food with my kid let alone my pets gross!
I cuddle and kiss up my cats, and they lick my hands. They also get baths. If people have indoor animals, but have no affection towards them - well why bother? I find this article trite. All three cases were easily cleared up with antibiotics. How is this any worse than catching all kinds of respiratory infections from the cute little petri dishes you live with (small children)?
Children are the biggest spreaders of whatever catching ailment is out and about. I sure do hope you will continue to hug and kiss your children..
Agreed StrengthInNumbers. My son has gotten me sick more than my cats or dog. I constantly hug and kiss my son, cats, and dog, although there is no mouth to mouth touching with the animals.
If the ladies in this article hadn't been cured by antibiotics, I'd be a little more careful next time I snuggle my animals.
Strenth in Numbers - I don't know about you, but I don't want to be taking antibiotics all the time! There are enough antibiotic-resistant germs out them that can eventually kill you. Not an even trade.
There are many people out there with immune-deficiency disorders, so you really don't want to risk getting anything from your pets or your kids.
You can show affection to your pets without have them lick around your face and mouth. Cuddling and hugging them will not hurt you and petting them often will help de-stress them and you. Yes, your dog might think you're a little weird, since they're always licking something, but better to refrain from their wet tongues than to get some illness that may or may not be easily cured with an antibiotic.
It always a good idea, too, to make sure you wash your hands or other body part that has been licked by your pet. Then you won't transmit their and your germs to anyone else. Just use common sense.
Yeah, my kids share their germs with me all the time. But they don't lick themselves to clean up after using the bathroom like my dog does! (ewwww!)
I kiss my cat's nose or fur, and that's as far as it goes. And I agree that it's gross to share eating utensils with an animal - that's gross. But kissing my kitty's nose is like kissing anyone else that I love (non-romantically of course), human or otherwise.
No matter how you spin it they are still animals,no matter how much you love them and dress them up they will always be "animals".And to all of those animal lovers that let their animals lick and kiss them in their mouth you're just nasty people eating feces.
Inmissouri... I have a cousin that used to share ice cream like that w/my grandmother's chihuahua. I always thought that was pretty damned gross.
It's probably a bad idea to share an ice cream cone with a creature that likes to eat poop :|
"It’s rare, of course..."
In other words this is nothing more than another scare the public article. MILLIONS of people do this without being affected or getting "life threatening" infections but in our "everything will kill you" world today I guess it's news.
JJMurray,
This society is scared of its' own shadow. Articles like this just make it more so.
beastiality
another misleading headline from MSNBC. cuddling pets does not lead to these infections. kissing, using the same feeding tube and mixing saliva leads to it. i guess MSNBC wants their clicks from normal pet owners who don't do those things, also...they got mine.
I would never lick the utensils used by my animals or kiss them on the mouth, but if you think one of my animals is sick and dying that I'm not going to kiss them on the top of their head you're crazy. I also kiss my horses noses too - they were made to be kissed!
Oooo...horse noses. I agree, they are sooo soft! I will kiss on top of heads (or horses' noses, unless they snort in your face or show any sign of a cold). Just no tongue, please.
LOL! That reminds me of something my old boyfriend said about my dog - "she's a good kisser, but she's all tongue and no lips".
ROFL! I'll have to remember that one! Ha!
I'm the same. I will never drink from anything my dogs or kitten has sipped from, nor will I eat from a utensil used by them and I don't really let them lick my face, but I've been with them in sickness and in health since the beginning and I'm damn well going to kiss the top of their head or cuddle with them when they are sick and dying. They are my children and I'm not going to shy away just because some people think showing affection makes you sick.
I used to have a cat that loved to stick his nose, or paw, in my milk glass...from the first day we got him...never finished any of those...lol...he lived to be 14, and I'm still going...Thank goodness, the 3 we have now aren't interested in people grub, and I haven't yet developed a craving for anything made by Purina...
al, my old cat used to drink out of my cup all the time! That didn't bother me so much. Now, if she'd stuck her foot in it, I think I'd rinse it out LOL My boy kitty has tried a few times, but I don't trust him...he's too clumsy and he'd spill. I do, however, kiss him regularly and carry him around all the time. I kissed my girl kitty, hugged her, she never made me sick, and she was nearly 21 when I lost her.
Cats are strange creatures when it comes to drinking anything. I used to paint with acrylic paints and always had a glass handy to rinse off my brushes. The water in this glass was icky-looking and brown colored (from all the colors of paint). The male cat I had at the time, used to love drinking from this glass. You could have clean bowls of fresh, cool water everywhere, but he would always choose the paint glass and sometimes, the toilet. They are so picky about their food, you would think they'd be more discriminating about their water!
Here's a thought- human life and animal life aren't on par. Treat humans (abortion???? duh) with dignity, and give animals dignity appropriate for them. We don't need to hold a dying dog. For freak's sake people, wake the hell up
All I can say Troop 3 is I'm certainly happy I am not your dog/cat/parakeet.
Although I love my lap dog to death and cuddle/ kiss her almost anywhere but her mouth -- her breath tells me exactly when I am way too close. Common sense would tell me not to exchange any DNA with animals during that time in their short lives.
ray-221,
"beastiality"?!!!! REALLY?!!!!!
It takes a SICK MIND to equate that with what this article is about. Perhaps people who live in glass houses should not throw stones?
Wow, I'm glad I'm no pet of yours.
Why is there "no need" to hold a dying dog, exactly? Animals have emotions and feel pain, why are they not worthy of comfort in their last moments?
Oh my, Troop 3. Personally, I treat all forms of life with dignity. All animals have hearts, brains and a capacity for affection.
I have had to euthanize several pets due to serious illnesses and would never think about leaving them on a cold table or floor to be injected by some vet who doesn't even know them without me being there to hug them and pet them as they lay dying. Your pet doesn't like going to a vet, normally, they want you to be with them and are less stressful undergoing this procedure when someone they care about is with them. Petting them and holding them should be the least you can do for a pet who has given you everything they have. Do you really think they have no feelings and feel no pain? You are absolutely wrong.
You are one cold-hearted person. All your pet wants from you is shelter, food, affection and knowing they are part of your family and will never be hurt by you. They don't ask for a lot, love you unconditionally, won't cut you out of their will, greet you by the door everyday - happy to see you, and get up with you everyday - happy to see you.
They're not that different from people. They eat, sleep, dream, love, feel pain and the loss of trust. They get sick, poop, pee and have pretty much the same type of organs that humans do. While they will never send you a Valentine's day card, they show their love with every wag of their tail, every gleam in their eyes, every smile (yes they can smile) on their face when they see you.
I only hope You have someone who will hold you when you are sick and dying.
Troop,
you are exactly the reason why I prefer my cats over people like you. It also says a lot about you to bring abortion into this discussion, totally uncalled for.
ok, who let the pro-lifer in???
Right on Troop, you know these people would do it if they could. These people that have replaced people with animals have perverted things so bad, they have no sense of the right way anymore. All of them living victorian ideals and trickle down emulation of the rich who would keep animals for the pleasure of saying they own life, and can do with it what they please.
licking the dropper that you gave your pet honey from is just nasty. If you do that, you deserve an infection and a lobotomy
First off that is total bull@!$%#. HONEY in and of itself is an ANTIBACTERIAL/ANTIVIRAL ( that's why for thousands of years it's been used as a natural wound dressing ) so there is NO POSSIBLE way that any "germs" were transmitted via that dropper.
http://www.honeyo.com/honeyhealing.shtml
http://www.drgrotte.com/honey-medicine.shtml
EW-W-W-W...I have had pets all my life....cats, dogs, fish, reptiles...and other than the fish...all have their various contagious bacteria that can make us sick. I have friends with pets that I can see doing some of these things in response to their own grief. I have also held dying pets in blankets, but tried to be careful for myself. Most people consider pets as family members (as do I), but common sense sometimes flies out the window. There are cautions on cat litter containers warning pregnant women about the dangers of bacteria/viruses that can be contracted through cat feces and used litter.
Thank you for an informative article that will maybe alert people to be cautious with their caregiving to their dying pets.
I agree. While I have held, petted and comforted a dying animal or two and even been licked on the hand or arm in the doing, I make sure to wash my hands before getting them anywhere near my face. I also would never lick a utensil (or anything else for that matter) that has just been in ANY animal's mouth even if they are hale and hearty.
I don't kiss my pets on the mouth or swap spit with them, but i'll gladly get sick to see my little buddy out. Their lifetime of loyalty deserves it.
Oh I dont know. Nothing wrong with a bit of love to your dieing dog. I will however say that co-consuming anything with an animal is just plain asking for problems.
FIX THE TITLE
Caring for your pet as they leave this life is not going to make you sick. French kissing your pets on the other hand might.
ugh this whole article gave me the heebie jeebies
This article sure isnt gonna change the way I interact with my animals...They all get kisses.
Wonder how many people that find this nasty, frech kiss humans? Both are equally cause for infection and sickening.
Slow news day so far, eh?
I have several animals that have been of great comfort to me during some difficult times. I love them dearly, but there are limits. I try not to let them lick me, though once in awhile one of them gets a "kiss" in before I can duck (the nose- none of them seem to go for my mouth- maybe they're smarter than we are !!) However, such things as sharing utensils, etc., I can't even imagine. Lots of handwashing too- common sense, people !!
Shame on you JoNel Aleccia for this misleading headline!! Thousands of companion animals are dying daily in high kill shelters!! Do you have any idea how many people are going to read this article and out of fear, ignorance and panic dump their older pets off at the shelter!! Every day people are dumping their older dogs and cats off with medical needs that can be cared for or even pets that are dying and leaving them to face the Euthanisia room alone, scared and not understanding how they could be betrayed...Left off in a scary environment after many years of love and loyalty to their owners... and now you are adding another reason for people to go ahead and do so!! Do you have ANY idea how hard it is to get older pets adopted or fostered out??!!! These pets DESERVE to spend their last years or days in warmth and comfort of a family environment, not languishing in a cold cage to die in a strangers arms!! YOU have an obligation to our companion animals to do RESPONSIBLE reporting! This is NOT responsible! SHAME ON YOU!! You need to go down to your local shelter and volunteer so you can see first hand what is happening right under your nose!! Next time you write an article regarding a concern, maybe you should think of a better headline...not one that will scare people into thinking their pets are dangerous! ADOPT OR FOSTER - DONT SHOP!!!! VOLUNTEER AT YOUR LOCAL SHELTER. ADVOCATE FOR BETTER CONDITIONS IN SHELTER AND SPAY AND NEUTER YOUR PETS PEOPLE!!! BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION, NOT PART OF THE PROBLEM!!
Rescue dogs are all well and good but if I want a real hunting dog I am going with a purebred from a proven line. Animals are here for our enjoyment and use, and if for use I'm going to get something useful.
Animals are NOT here for our enjoyment and use. What an idiot statement. We are all living beings and entities in our own right, animals included. People like you use to say the same thing about Africans. Please, we're in the 21st century now. Catch up!
Linda, you're absolutely correct! Most people don't lick their dogs and cats nor do they share their spoons, so this story is just kinda silly.
THANK YOU for your comments.
In these times lowlifes have always found excuses to get rid of their animals, now they get another, as if they needed any. The economy, lack of house-breaking, not spayed, a bother, and now this nonsense. We had a baby and now we can't keep our cat. It is horrible, and a terrible lesson to their children. Our shelters are overflowing, and millions of animals are killed there every year. Millions. While back yard breeders keep on breeding their poor animals to see their puppies.
College students get themselves a pet at the beginning of the school year, and abandon it when they return homw for the summer, only to do the same thing again in the fall.
When you consider that homeless people keep their dogs and live in their cars, if they have them, it is even more shocking that people get animals, and then get rid of them for being inconvenient. The situations at the shelters speaks badly of us as a culture.
My animals are rescues, some of them not spayed by their owners, thus tossed out when the animals becomes pregnant left to starve with their babies unless found. I volunteer with rescues, and I see things that are so appalling people would be shocked - all the time.
And illegal Mexicans by the way, with huge domestic violence rates, are among the worst for animal abuse, but certainly abuse, abandonment, and neglect is not limited to one group.
My dog has his own Beer mug and I don't ever use it..
@Evangeline, I didn't give up my pet dog when we had kids, I took it to the pound and ahd it put down. No wasting anybodies money on an animal shelter or housing for it, just straight to the death room, done, as it should be with an animal.
If your pet has a disease you take it to a vet. You have a chance to ask the vet if YOU can catch the disease if the vet says YES you should get a clue from that. If the vet is not sure you should ask your own doctor. Things can be checked out.
I miss my pets but will have no more as I know they would out live me anymore.
My parrot took a dump in my cereal this morning. I didn't care, it really didn't change the flavor much.
gravis - You must be eating the same high-fiber cereal I eat. Parrot poo could only improve the flavor.
If you're eating Froot Loops, that's a TOUCAN, not a parrot. ;-)
I have two wonderful Jack Russell terriers. I don't even want to think about them dying because I love them dearly. However I will not kiss them, eat after them or allow them to sleep in my bed. They love to dig in the dirt, chase small animals and munch a little deer poop when they can find it. So, getting too intimate with them would not be a good idea.