Was Lucy Wrong about Dog Germs?
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)