“It seems harmless enough. You get nose to nose with your dog and talk to it as it laps at your mouth and cheeks with its tongue, or you come home from work and bring your lips to your dog`s in a greeting to say hello.

It may feel like the ultimate display of affection, but when it comes to such kisses, experts caution: Beware of dogs.

Dr. Neilanjan Nandi, an assistant professor of medicine at Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia, said in an email that most animals` mouths are host to an enormous oral microbiome of bacteria, viruses and yeast.”

New York Times

I know that my pooch, Mandy, spends an inordinate amount of time licking her nether regions, and I realize that she has a penchant for digging up old bones in my backyard, but that doesn`t mean I try to prevent her from licking and kissing me when I come home from work.

A canine`s mouth may be teeming with bacteria and viruses, but a healthy person is unlikely to contract a disease from a dog.

Even if Mandy`s displays of affection made me sick, a physical illness would be a small price to pay for the psychological benefits of allowing her to love on me.

Dr. Robert Paul Reyes says: Don`t listen to the warnings of egghead scientists and physicians and let your pooch lick you to death.

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http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/22/us/should-you-let-your-dog-lick-your-face.html?_r=0