Watch out for that tongue

A slop across the face is a friendly - although messy - act of love from a dog.

Many owners gladly accept it. In fact, many are so close to their dogs that they let the animals hop onto the bed and snooze with them.

But a British study suggests owners need to be careful about getting too chummy with man's best friend.

The study, from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs at the University of Liverpool Veterinary School, identifies risks involving transmittable diseases.

The study notes that allowing dogs to lick your face or sleep in your bed, or picking up the animal's mess, could increase the risk of contracting infections such as staph, salmonella, campylobacter and MRSA.

At the same time, others point out, the risk is mild, especially when compared to the risks involving contact with humans, and there are numerous health benefits to owning a dog.

Moulton resident Allison Blankenship recently was shopping at a local pet store.

Blankenship, who owns three dogs, says the animals stay outside. "We don't let our dogs lick us," she said. "We have cows, and one of our dogs loves to eat their mess, so we know where that mouth has been."

An April 21 London Times article on the study states that many new diseases can be transmitted from pets.

At the same time, many groups question the warnings. In fact, an April 14 London Times article about the study's findings states the risk of infection from dog to man is low.

Further, a researcher on the project said she doesn't want to create a scare, and points out there are health benefits to owning a dog. For example, people with dogs typically recover faster at home after an operation.

Yet Fred Landeg, senior government veterinary officer for the United Kingdom, points out diseases such as SARS came from animals. "As a veterinary surgeon, I would never advise people to keep dogs in their bedroom," Landeg said.

The notion of contracting bacterial infections from a dog is nothing new, said Dr. Randy Plaisance, a senior veterinary student at Auburn University who is practicing at the Russellville Animal Clinic.

At the same time, he questions some figures that have been tossed around in the study, including one that claims 10 percent of dogs carry the MRSA bug.

Plaisance asked veterinarians at the Russellville clinic, who have a combined 70 years of practice, and they said such a disease is rare in a dog.

"Human beings are much more likely to be asymptomatic carriers of MRSA than dogs or cats," he said.

A 2005 survey, called the Sealy Snooze Report, revealed that 67 percent of American dog and cat owners regularly allow their pets to sleep in bed with them.

The bottom line, officials say, is using common sense regarding contact with your dog. Make sure the dog stays healthy and clean, and wash hands after touching the pet.

Plaisance tends to agree. "Obviously, the healthier the dog, the less likely there's going to be of zoonotic transmission," he said. "Having a healthy dog is probably much more important than not letting the dog lick you in the face, not petting the dog and not letting it inside.

"The Centers for Disease Control says you're much more likely to become ill from food-borne disease than from dog-borne disease. I think that puts things into perspective."

Plaisance said it's important that owners who keep their dogs indoors check the pets for skin infections and promptly treat such infections. "When you move the pet inside, those health issues for the dog can be health issues for the owner."

He said children and elderly residents, as well as those with immunocompromised diseases such as HIV patients, should take particular caution around pets.

Bernie Delinski can be reached at 740-5739 or bernie.delinski@timesdaily.com.