Vets Warn Dog Owners: Letting Your Pet Lick You Could Lead To Serious Health Risks

Many dog owners love the affection their pets show, including when their dogs lick them. For some, it’s a sweet and harmless gesture of love.

While it might not seem like the most sanitary habit, many people think it’s perfectly safe to let their furry friends give them “kisses.”

However, veterinarians are now urging caution. They’ve issued warnings to dog owners about the potential health risks after one woman experienced a devastating outcome—she had to have all four limbs amputated.

Marie ended up hospitalised after her dog licked her hand which had been cutMarie Trainer

Marie Trainer, a resident of Stark County, Ohio, came back home from a vacation in 2019 with a small cut on her hand. It didn’t seem like a big deal at the time.

When she returned, her beloved dog welcomed her back with licks, which she saw as a normal and affectionate gesture.

But not long after that, Marie started to feel unwell, and things quickly took a turn for the worse.

Marie’s condition deteriorated rapidly, and her health spiraled out of control in a matter of days.

In an interview with FOX News, Marie shared her experience, saying: “Four days later, I wasn’t feeling well and just got sicker and sicker.”

Initially thinking it was just a bout of the flu, her husband, Matt, decided to take her to the hospital for medical care. But the reality turned out to be far more serious than anyone expected.

Doctors were puzzled at first and couldn’t figure out what was causing her symptoms. However, it soon became clear that she wasn’t dealing with the flu when she slipped into a coma.

Marie was eventually diagnosed with a rare but serious bacterial infection called capnocytophaga canimorsus. This bacteria is commonly found in the saliva of cats and dogs.

When introduced to the human body, especially through an open wound, the bacteria can trigger an overwhelming immune response that may turn life-threatening.

Marie Trainer’s limbs had to be amputatedMarie Trainer

In severe cases like Marie’s, the infection can cause blood clots, which may cut off circulation to certain parts of the body. This can result in tissue death in the affected areas.

When doctors encounter this situation, amputation is often the only option to stop the infection from spreading further.

Tragically for Marie, this meant that both her arms and legs had to be amputated to save her life.