Sign of rejection? Hygiene obligation? What to do when your dog licks your face? Here is the veterinarian’s answer to this question.
Instinctively, it probably disgusts you, but is it really bad to let your dog lick your face ? Recently, an actor dog became an international star by… Eating his own vomit (and was even mentioned at the Oscars in reference to Gérard Depardieu)! Without being so disgusting, your companion probably has the annoying habit of licking your cheek or your mouth. Two veterinarians explain why and tell you if you should stop it.
The issue of animal welfare is very much discussed now (proof of this is the Prime Minister’s Instagram post). We all want to know what is good for our “dog” in its education, in addition to spoiling it with toys and accessories to prevent it from being lost. Regarding this specific gesture, the site Parade asked Dr. Melody Winterhalter, an Australian veterinarian known as Dr Melody The Vet on Instagram, and Dr Lianne Mellin, veterinarian from New Zealand.
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Should we let our dog lick our face?
Dr. Melody confirms: a dog’s mouth contains bacteria and letting him lick your face therefore “a little risk”. It is higher in certain cases: you have a wound on your face, you are immunocompromised, you are allergic to canine saliva… Remember that your four-legged companions tend to eat everything they find, including excrement from other dogs on walks.
You want to know If forbidding him to lick your face will make him sad? For Dr. Melody, as long as you’re giving her positive attention in other ways, this shouldn’t be the case.
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Why do dogs lick their faces?
If you’re wondering why your dog is licking your face, Dr. Melody encourages observing certain signs in his behavior to “decode your body language”. Firstly, it may simply be a sign of affection : he shows you that he loves you.
Secondly, this gesture can be a response to stress that he feels, because he releases endorphins, the “feel-good hormones”, specifies Dr Lianne. Licking you therefore allows him to be less anxious. Another possibility, your dog wants attention. The veterinarian explains that dogs have difficulty telling the difference between “positive and negative reinforcement”. Your reaction, which may be disgust, will therefore be interpreted by your companion as a way of capturing you.
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What to do if your dog licks your face?
Fourth possibility, your dog has underlying issues. When licking is excessive, whether on you, on him or on objects, it may be related to an infection, allergy or pain. It is therefore advisable to consult a veterinarian in this specific case. This can also be instinctive behavior : mother dogs lick their babies to clean them. Your dog can therefore show you that he cares about you.
Sixth possibility, your dog likes the taste of your face, especially sweat, which is salty. And to finish, this may be linked to his hunger. He shows you that he wants to eat. Anyway, if you haven’t been able to escape his lick, it is recommended by veterinarians to wash your face and hands thoroughly with soapy water.
Editor for Aufeminin since 2022, Charlotte is passionate about cinema, French and international, and a fortune reader. Curious about everything, she talks as much about personalities as…