Dogs, Their Owners, and the Risk of Catching Germs

The bond between most humans and their pet dogs is so strong that they consider them as their children, or as part of their family. Dogs show signs of affection by licking the faces of owners and cuddling with them. Many owners carry their dogs around, kiss them, and let them sleep in their beds.

Some people worry that it is not hygienic to allow their dogs to sleep in the same bed with them, or to let them lick their faces because of their saliva. They believe that germs can be easily transferred this way. To get to the bottom of this theory, a research was conducted Dr. Kate Stenske, a clinical assistant professor at Kentucky State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

Stenske said, “I became interested in the topic because there is such a strong bond between dogs and their owners. If you look at one study, 84 percent of people say their dog is like a child to them.”

She further added, “We also know diseases can be shared between dogs and people. About 75 percent of emerging diseases are zoonotic, meaning they are transferrable between humans and other animals. With these two pieces of knowledge, I wanted to examine the public health aspects of such activities.”

As the focus of her study, Stenske used the E. coli bacteria which can be commonly found in both people’s and dogs’ intestinal tracts. Stenske analyzed the E. coli’s DNA tracks gotten from fecal samples of both dogs and their owners. The study showed that 10% of owner-dog pairs had the same strains of E. coli. It also showed that expressions of affection, such as dogs sharing the owner’s bed or licking their face, did not have a connection to any increased risks of shared E. coli.

What is also insightful is that there was, however, a distinct association between antibiotic-resistant E. coli and dog owners who did not wash their hands before cooking meals or after stroking their dogs. It goes to show that common hygiene practices, such as washing hands often, can make a big difference in protecting oneself from germs.

Stenske’s findings have shown that the likelihood of owners getting germs from dogs who licked their faces and slept in their beds were no more than any other dog owner. To many dog owners, this piece of information is a huge relief.