Your cute furbaby and newborn can be best friends but from afar. Your pet is expected to be curious about the newest addition to the family. Your pet will try to get up close and personal with your baby. Dogs have many reasons why they lick a baby’s face. It could be trying to play with a baby, show affection or even assert its dominance over the child. Whatever the reason, this behavior should not be condoned for health and safety reasons. Yes, a dog’s saliva is harmful to the baby.
A Dog’s Mouth Carries A lot Of Germs
These germs can quickly be passed on to people. This can be a massive problem for babies or any immune-suppressed person. They are at high risk of contracting parasites and infections from dogs. A dog licking a baby’s face may look cute, but it should not be allowed. It is not recommended even for healthy adults. Dogs are known to cleanse their behind by licking, which is gross. With this in mind, would you let your dog lick your face, let alone your baby’s? If your dog likes kissing to show affection, let him lick your hand and immediately wash off the saliva. Do not let your dog’s mouth near your baby’s face at any point. Your baby’s health comes first.
Dogs Might Be Trying To Show Dominance Over Your Baby
Also, if a dog licks a baby’s face to assert its dominance, that is a dangerous setup that can lead to the dog biting the baby. Do not let your dog show dominant behavior over your kids. Teaching your kids how to interact with a dog from the youngest age possible is also essential. For instance, not to sit or lay on the animal or pull its tail and ears. You should train your dog to be submissive to your child. This precaution is necessary to prevent things from getting out of hand. For instance, a dog might become a little protective over their owner and try to defend them by attacking a child simply because they are yelling or even playing with their parents.
A New Born’s Immune Is Not Yet Strong
The saying that a dog’s mouth is cleaner than a humans is a huge myth and misconception. Research has shown that disease-causing oral bacteria are present in dog and human mouths. Besides, dogs are much less considerate about where they put their mouths. A simple, cute lick can have serious complications, especially when passing multitudinous microbes from the dog to your baby. Remember, your baby’s immune system is still developing and might be unable to fight some of these infections.
A study by Dr. Leavy showed that this exposure could cause mouth and gum infections. A dog’s diet is another health-related issue. Most dogs are on a raw diet or happen to come across raw pieces of scrap meat on the street. They can pass zoonotic bacteria such as Salmonella, E. Coli, or even worms to a baby. Keep your dog’s mouth away from the baby’s face, as saliva is more likely to be absorbed there.
