Claudia Winkleman hit the headlines last week, after making a disturbing confession about her one-year-old King Spaniel, Skip.
The Traitors host, 52, revealed that she not only kisses her dog – but opens his mouth and ‘inserts’ her tongue.
While many dog owners will likely relate to Winkleman’s antics, vets have now issued an urgent warning about locking lips with pooches.
A team of Penn State researchers have warned that houshold dogs are ‘overlooked spreaders’ for zoonotic pathogens.
Worrying, this includes antibiotic-resistant Salmonella, which can cause diarrhoea, fever, abdominal cramps, and even death in some extreme cases.
‘Especially with Salmonella, we think about the role of agriculture and transmission – we think about eggs, we think about beef,’ said Sophia Kenney, an author of the study.
‘But the thing is, we don’t let cows sleep in our beds or lick our faces, but we do dogs.
‘We have this close bond with companion animals in general, and we have a really close interface with dogs.’
A team of Penn State researchers have warned that houshold dogs are ‘overlooked spreaders’ for zoonotic pathogens. Pictured: Emily Ratajkowski kissing her dog, Colombo
Vets have now issued an urgent warning about locking lips with pooches. Pictured: David Beckham kisses his dog
Salmonella is a nasty bacteria that can cause food poisoning.
Symptoms of infection include diarrhoea, stomach cramps, and vomiting, while on some occassions it can prove fatal.
The most common way for the bacteria to spread is by eating contaminated food or drinks – especially poultry.
However, unbeknownst to many people is the fact that you can also catch the bacteria from your pets.
‘Most pet reptiles or amphibians can carry salmonella. Dogs, cats and rodents can occasionally become infected,’ the NHS explains.
In their new study, the team set out to understand the true potential for Salmonella to be transmitted to humans via their pet dogs.
Using the U.S. Food & Drug Administration’s Veterinary Laboratory Investigation and Response Network, they firstly identified all Salmonella strains isolated from domestic dogs between May 2017 and March 2023.
Then they matched the timing and location of those 87 cases to strains isolated from humans.
Based on the findings, the researchers are urging dog owners to avoid kissing their pets, and to make sure they regularly wash their hands after contact
Their analysis uncovered 77 suspected zoonotic cases – meaning the bacteria moved from a pet dog to a human – comprising 164 strains.
‘Salmonella infections in dogs are not common but we’re aware of foodborne outbreaks related to pet treats or from contact with contaminated pet food and improper food handling,’ Ms Kenney said.
Based on the findings, the researchers are urging dog owners to avoid kissing their pets, and to make sure they regularly wash their hands after contact.
‘Simple hygiene practices such as hand washing are needed to protect both our furry friends and ourselves – our dogs are family but even the healthiest pup can carry Salmonella,’ said Nkuchia M’ikanatha, co-author of the study.
‘We must respect the enduring threat of Salmonella and remain vigilant in preventing its spread within our families.’