• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Vets issue urgent warning about kissing your dog after woman had arms and legs amputated

Home> News> Health

Published 17:29 15 Jan 2025 GMT

Vets issue urgent warning about kissing your dog after woman had arms and legs amputated

Many people think being licked by your dog is harmless, but it could make you seriously ill

Ben Thompson

Ben Thompson

A lot of dog owners enjoy letting their dogs lick them.

It might not be the most hygienic thing in the world, but most would think it's pretty harmless.

But vets have warned owners not to risk their health, after one woman ended up having her arms and legs amputated.

Marie ended up hospitalised after her dog licked her hand which had been cut (Marie Trainer)
Marie ended up hospitalised after her dog licked her hand which had been cut (Marie Trainer)

Advert

Marie Trainer from Stark County, Ohio, had returned home form a vacation in 2019 with a small cut on her hand.

She didn't think much of it when she was welcomed home with 'kisses' from her dog.

But shortly afterwards, she fell ill.

Things went from bad to worse very quickly.

Advert

Speaking to FOX News, Marie said: "Four days later, I wasn’t feeling well and just got sicker and sicker."

Believing she had contracted the flu, she was taken to hospital by her husband Matt.

Medics weren't sure what was wrong with her, but it quickly became apparent it wasn't flu when she fell into a coma.

She was diagnosed with a condition called capnocytophaga canimorsus, which is a bacteria found in the saliva of cats and dogs.

Advert

If it enters the human body, it can trigger a severe immune response.

Marie Trainer's limbs had to be amputated (Marie Trainer)
Marie Trainer's limbs had to be amputated (Marie Trainer)

In worst case scenarios, it can cause blood clots which can lead to circulation being cut off in the limbs.

When this arises, the limbs need to be amputated to prevent the infection spreading any further.

Advert

In the case of Marie, both of her arms and legs had to be cut off.

What are the health risks of kissing your dog?

Vets have warned that dogs are 'overlooked spreaders' for zoonotic pathogens.

Zoonotic means the disease is spread from animal to human.

Advert

A team of researchers at Penn State issued a warning about exercising caution around dogs.

Of particular concern to them was antibiotic-resistant salmonella, which can cause diarrhoea and even death in extreme cases.

Sophia Kenney, who authored the study, said: "Especially with salmonella, we think about the role of agriculture and transmission - we think about eggs, we think about beef.

"But the thing is, we don't let cows sleep in our beds or lick our faces, but we do dogs.

Advert

"We have this close bond with companion animals in general, and we have a really close interface with dogs."

Falls Village Veterinary Hospital in Raleigh, North Carolina, adds: "Dogs have a reputation for being fairly indiscriminate about the things they sniff, lick, and eat. For this reason, their mouths can easily become home to bacteria like E. coli, campylobacter, and salmonella. These microorganisms are zoonotic, which means they can be readily passed from one species to another.

Maybe not, folks (Getty Stock Image)
Maybe not, folks (Getty Stock Image)

"While healthy adults will almost certainly survive being exposed to the viruses or bacteria in their dogs’ mouths, there is a non-zero risk of gastrointestinal illness and oral diseases from puppy kisses.

Advert

"Certain parasites like giardia, roundworms, and hookworms can also be transmitted through licks. These organisms can cause severe abdominal pain and digestive problems in dogs and humans."

Marie has been on the challenging road to recovery after her quadruple amputation, undergoing rehabilitative therapy with prosthetic limbs.

She said: "It’s been challenging. Learning how to walk was the hardest thing, but I’m good, I’m doing good."

Featured Image Credit: Marie Trainer/Sally Anscombe/Getty

Topics: Health, US News

Ben Thompson
Ben Thompson

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

7 hours ago
9 hours ago
10 hours ago
  • 7 hours ago

    Hulk Hogan’s daughter Brooke reveals shocking reason she didn’t attend dad’s tributes

    Brooke Oleksy shut down previous reports that she and her late father were on bad terms

    Celebrity
  • 7 hours ago

    Expert reveals the 3 common names you should never give your baby for surprising reason

    All three are strong names that are popular today, but there's a reason why this expert doesn't think you should name your child them

    News
  • 9 hours ago

    James Gunn responds to Trisha Paytas naming baby ‘Aquaman’ following bizarre Ozzy Osbourne conspiracy

    DC Studios' co-CEO has reacted to the internet celeb having named her baby Aquaman - something she revealed on the day Ozzy Osbourne died

    Celebrity
  • 10 hours ago

    Fans spot Kelly Osbourne's 'subtle' tribute to dad Ozzy as she pays her respects during his procession

    The Osbourne family and the rest of the world are grieving the loss of a rock legend

    Celebrity
  • Flesh-eating bacteria leaves 4 people dead in Florida as health officials issue warning
  • Experts issue urgent warning to 1,800,000,000 Gmail users over new type of attack that fools AI
  • Woman issues terrifying warning after common beauty procedure left her ‘partially paralyzed’
  • Expert issues travel warning about the items you should never put in your checked luggage