Next time your dog tries to lick you, let him.  He (or she) might be doing you a favor!

There's a study underway by University of Arizona researchers, along with researchers from various other Universities, to test the theory that dog germs actually act like yogurt and have a positive effect on humans.

Rob Knight, an internationally known expert on human microbes, is leading the University of California San Diego's portion of the study.

"There's a growing amount of evidence that dog ownership helps people. Children in dog-owning families have lower rates of asthma and allergies."

Over the years, other evidence has shown that dog saliva causes a beneficial effect rather than a negative effect, and that's what the researchers are wanting to find out.

So, the next time your dog drags his saliva-drenched tongue across your face, welcome it with open arms!  He or she may just be doing you one big microbial favor!

(Source: UTSanDiego.com)

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