NEW YORK, United States: A kiss isn't just a kiss. According to a new survey by Harris Interactive, North Americans are almost as likely to kiss family pets on the lips as they are husbands, wives or children.
The Edmonton Journal reported that of 2069 people surveyed, 41% of women and 32% of men claim that they only socially smooch immediate family members. However, according to the study, almost half of women and more than a quarter of men admit they go lip to lip, or make that lip to snout, with their pets. Sweet.
Cory Silverberg, co-owner of Toronto store "Come As You Are", told hfxnews.ca: "I kiss my dog more than I kiss other people, for sure. With kissing and hugging, there's often an awkwardness because everyone expects the other person to take the lead. Whereas with a dog, I can just do whatever the hell I want."
For their part, dogs don't kiss back. Instead, they lick. According to perfectpaws.com, licking is a dog's way of expressing affection, approval and love. Amidst this show of pet love and affection, the question is: Is it really safe to smooch with pets?
It has long been rumoured that a dog's mouth is cleaner than a human's. But does that mean it's okay to smooch a dog? ABC News asked veterinarian and dog lover Marty Becker, (author of Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover's Soul). According to Marty, dogs "... raid the garbage can... they give each other a peck on the rear end. All you got to do is look, watch, smell and you'll realize that that is not true." And then there's also the fact that dogs sometimes eat their own feces.
Fun facts about smooching:
- 48% of women are more likely to feel 'fireworks' from tender kisses
- 38% of women enjoy spontaneous smooches while 31% of men do
- 27% says first kiss is one of the best
- 12% says forbidden kisses make their hearts skip a beat
- 1 in 10 enjoys post-argument smooches
- Source: Edmonton Journal
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Marty's theory about the 'clean canine mouths' myth stemmed from your dog's practice of licking its wounds, promoting faster healing. According to him, your dog's tongue not only gets rid of dead tissue but also stimulates circulation, thus the faster healing of wounds. Live Science further explains that oral bacteria are species-specific and can't really be considered cleaner than those found in another species, just different. Thus according to this theory, it may be safer to kiss a dog than kiss another human. As bacteria in your dog's mouth are species-specific they shouldn't do any damage to you if you kiss them. In fact, a person with tuberculosis who kisses a dog can do far more danger by accidentally transmitting the disease!
But hold that kiss! Though it's generally safe to exchange smooches with a dog, Atlantic Veterinary College's Dr. James Miller has a warning. One rather surprising disease than you can catch from smooching your dog is a 'cat-scratch disease'. "Although dogs never get sick from it themselves, they can be carriers, "said Dr. Miller. Strep throat has also been reported as a common ailment you can catch from kissing a dog.
While dogs lick instead of kissing, felines also have their own version of a kiss, aptly called a 'cat kiss'. A cat kiss isn't literally a smooch. According to Yahoo Pets [20], a cat kiss is a "very slow blink of the cat's eyelids." It is usually given to other cats and to some lucky humans, those with whom the feline is familiar and friendly. If your cat 'kisses' you, you can always return the favor with your own blink.
There is also another cat kiss alternative, but intended specifically for humans. According to theromantic.com, this cat kiss is when you meow and purr and touch noses with your kissing partner. The human version of cat kiss also involves playful pawing.
Kissing pets is an all-good expression of love and affection. For all the joy that our pets bring to our lives, a show of love every now and then is well-deserved. Just make sure that Fido and Fluffy are checked out before you start smooching, and also avoid kissing pets if you are sick. You would hate your pet to spread bacteria.
Happy Kissing!
cats are hardcore. They aint givin you no kiss just like that you gotta sit and wait and it can't be just anybody
I kiss my dog a lot. Can't help it! I love her to bits! The only drawback is that my guy does not want to kiss me afterwards! lol!
i really can't imagine smooching a dog. why would i even want to. yes i am a dog lover but i wouldn't kiss them directly on the mouth. i would rather just play with them or pat them on the head.
ok if you want hilarious dog kissing action i suggest you find that sat night live skit called talking dog.. its what i like to call torrid pooch smooch. lol
i kiss my dog all the time but it's just a smack not a smooch! that's totally disgusting.
I don't go on kissin my dog! That's too sissy. I show my big guy some tough lovin'! Plus, my big dog's a male. He's big and a male. lol, kissing him would be too weird!
The human version of the cat kiss is cheeessyyy. LOL.
I grew up in a horse-loving family and had a few horses before I moved states. I loved our horses but I don't go as far as kissin' them! LOL! Come to think of it, do obsessive horse-lovin' people kiss horses? That would be disgusting, with their huge teeth and all. LOL!
libby- i saw that clip and i have one word: disgusting, though i must admit it was cool of andy samberg to do that, i am assuming though that the dog was his.. lol
this is so gross! how can anyone even have some torrid kissing action with any animal? yuck! lol
I'm sure dogs and cats aren't that excited about kissing us humans, too bad for them tehy can't say that out loud. lol
these lips of mine will never touch the lips of an animal. even if i really adore my pooch, i will never in any frame of mind, smooch my pooch!
this is so nasty id never kiss a grody dog of cat they eat there own kiss. this is what i have to say stick to the boy friendor girl friend just leave the cats and dogs alone
i really don't get it. according to the study, north americans are more likely to give their pets a smooch. why is that? is it some perverse frame of mind or something? lol
oh come on where is your sense of humor? it doesnt have to be torrid kissing you know, smooch can be a simple peck. go ahead.. try it.. lol
its prolly because we are one big pet lovin nation. just look at all the silly things we do and give for our pets, if that's not love i don't know what it is.
Makes me wonder what other animals people kiss. There are lots who own small animals. I can't imagine kissin dogs or cats, what more a rodent. LOL
i'm not that crazy to start smooching my dog. i just normally let her kiss my hand or my cheek but never any part of my mouth.
That's why i like cats. they don't go and lick your face. They just rub against you. They don't feel the need to share their saliva with you! lol
I actually think this is rather disgusting regardless of what they say.
Cats are the bomb! they don't see the need to contaminate your face with their saliva! lol
i really think that cats are much cleaner than dogs. i would rather kiss them on any part of their body than i would do a dog.
I don't kiss my dog. Buddy jumps and kisses me every time I go home. LOL
But aren;t cat whiskers dangerous? my mom always said they would cause me allergies..
That's why i love cats. They don't get too slobbery on you, they don't shake off excess saliva, etc. They just mark you by rubbing their faces (or their eyes) on you. How cute! :)
ya cats just scratch instead of lick ya dats nice..
although i am a pet owner myself (i have horses), i don't think i can stomach smooching with my horses. i normally just give them a smack on their cheeks but directly on the mouth. that's totally disgusting! lol
I love all kinds of animals but the reason why I keep cats as pets is coz I can't take the slobber and drool of dogs. Cats rule. even their "kisses" are the cutest kiss in the world - so clean, not a slobber or drop of saliva on you. :)
my daughter likes to kiss our dog marky and marky cannot do anything bout it i think its therepeutic lol
The best kiss I ever had was a kiss given by my cat. First of all, it was not sloppy. It was cute. lol. Next, it was pure and innocent. How can anyone beat that? :)