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A gut doctor has issued a terrifying warning which might make you think twice about accepting a smooch from your pooch.
An affectionate lick from our beloved furry friends might give us a well-needed dopamine hit, yet according to doctors, even the smallest lick from a dog could jeopardise our health.
Even though they are our best friends, it's easy to forget sometimes that our dogs are animals and spend a lot of their time outside in nature.
So, while it's easy to think one small lick couldn't do much harm to you in the long run, according to The Gut Doc on TikTok, it's something you should be wary about.
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In a quick clip on the social media platform, he revealed that letting your dogs lick your face could introduce a bacterial infection into your system that can be deadly.
His video, which has since amassed more than 3.6 million views, says: "From a gastroenterologist: Did you know that letting a dog lick your face or near an open wound can expose you to Capnocytophaga, a bacteria that can cause a flesh-eating disease, sepsis, and even limb amputation?”
He also added in the caption: "People with a weakened immune system are at a higher risk, including those with diabetes, liver disease, or cancer.
"So, if you’re at high risk, avoid dog licks and wash the skin immediately with soap and water.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Capnocytophaga is a bacteria that is a rare 'but potentially serious infection' that is more commonly contracted by a dog or a cat bite - or if their saliva gets into an open wound.
This is because several types of germs live in our pets' mouths which can cause 'opportunistic infections,' like sepsis, a heart attack, kidney failure and gangrene, where limb amputation may be necessary.
And while humans can have Capnocytophaga germs in their mouths too, which if passed on can lead to infections in the eyes, gums, mouth tissues and respiratory tracts (nose, throat, lungs), it's mostly people with weaker immune systems that are at an increased risk of becoming sick.
Those at risk include people who do not have a spleen, people with alcohol disorders or those who take certain medications, like chemotherapy, that weaken the immune system, the CDC says.
And especially those with immunocompromised conditions like cancer, diabetes or HIV should take extra precaution when in contact with animals, but most people who have close contact with a dog or a cat do not get ill.
Symptoms of the infection include blisters, redness, swelling, pus or pain, fever, diarrhoea and/or stomach pain, vomiting, headaches, muscle or join paint or feeling confused.
If it enters the blood stream, infected people could be at risk of sepsis which can cause inflammation of the heart lining, abscesses, meningitis and/or inflammation of the eyes, face, lymph nodes or brain membranes.
Marie Turner from Stark County, Ohio, contracted the infection after her dog gave her some welcome 'kisses' when she returned home from vacation in 2019 - where unbeknownst to her, she had a small cut on her hand.
Shortly after, she fell sick and was discovered to have contracted capnocytophaga canimorsus, which eventually required her to get her arms and legs amputated.