Treating cats and dogs as furry babies could seriously damage your health, pet owners have been warned.
Scots scientists have discovered that allowing animals to kiss or lick your face or eat from your plate increases the chance of spreading antibiotic-resistant bugs between species.
Overprescription of antibiotics has led to a world health crisis, resulting in the number of superbugs taking off.
Now it seems getting the drugs for your pets could cause catastrophic dangers too, according to scientists at Glasgow Caledonian University.
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Research into 23 owners of dogs, cats and rabbits uncovered stories of shared cups and plates, pets that eat from their owners’ hands and humans who kiss their pets on the mouth.
Health psychologist Dr Adele Dickson, who led the research, said: “This close contact could potentially put adults, children and the pets themselves at risk of transferring bugs that are resistant to antibiotics through saliva.”
She said that the biggest threat to health was the overuse and misuse of antibiotics and expressed concern that it had become the go-to drug for animal ailments.
Suggestions for reducing the risk of antimicrobial resistance include avoiding kissing pets on the mouth, not letting them lick your mouth or nose, washing hands after stroking animals and ensuring they eat from their own bowls.
Dickson added: “As the owner of a golden retriever, I know how important the relationship between the owner and their pet is to both mental and physical health and wellbeing.
“I’m not saying pet owners need to stop showing affection because we know these behaviours are so deeply treasured they are unlikely to be amenable to change.”
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