A medical expert has warned that kissing your dog could have dire health effects.
Many pet owners love to show their four-legged friends some affection - with some even admitting to often kissing their dogs. But Medical TikToker @medexplained2you has shared a scary reason as to why you should avoid locking lips with your mutt at all costs - especially on the mouth.
The physician's assistant-turned-TikToker warned: "Do you kiss your dog on the mouth? Because if so it's time to stop. You could actually lose your limbs over it."
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He explained that your dog carries bacteria, named capnocytophaga canimorsus, that can be harmful to humans and kissing your pet is a sure way to spread those germs. The expert said: "This is a serious illness that can cause widespread systemic infection, septic shock, and even gangrene and depending how fast it progresses and when it's diagnosed.
"Amputation may become the only treatment. Why not avoid all that trouble and just stop kissing your dog? Seems like an easy fix to me."
The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) backed up the med experts claims. Their website states: "The Capnocytophaga germs that are common in dogs and cats can be spread to people through a bite or after close contact with dogs or cats. Infections are more often linked to dog bites or dog contact."
Their guidance said that the bacteria can cause a wide range of symptoms and illnesses from gum disease and eye infections to more life-threatening issues such as septicemia and endocarditis.
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