THEY say dogs have cleaner mouths
than humans. I hear this absurdity from
kind observers whenever our Labrador
unleashes her affections on my toddler's
face. But can it be true?

In cascyer thought ihe to be a iouilly tive
fous investigation, veterinarian Dr. Tjeerdo
Polderman actually studied the issue in university
fon the basis that he would inevitably be asked
the question }.

“it’s like comparing apples to oranges.” he
stated, “Not many of the bugs ina dog's mouth
are of any danger to humans, although they nay
be dangerous or infectious to ather dogs. The real dangers
are posed from the mouth of an animal of the same species.”
For that reason, Dr. Polderman explained, he would rather
be bitten by a dog than a human — and having sustained
several dog bites over the course of his career, he Knows what
he’s talking about. (Note: No miail-carriers were consulted
tor this column.)

Canine behaviourist Ann fackson also examined the ques-
tion while studying microbiology. One of her assigaments
required her to collect smears from the mouths of several
species of mammai including dogs and humans. While the
swab from the dog’s mouth took chree days to grow a bacte-
rial culture, the swab frem the human’s mouth sprouted a
growth within only 24 hours.

Good grief, Charlie Brown. Snoopy’s kiss is cleaner than

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Schroeder’s? Poor Lucy.

As with all great scientific debates, oie must
allow room for some amount of old-fashioned
common sense. You're probably taking all this
with 3 grain of salt, thinking abour the bizarre
hygiene habits of our canine friends. Dr.
Polderman dit acknowledge dogs’ shortcomungs
in thiy depariment.

“Humans don’t lick their behind or have uncon-
trolled worm infestations,” Dr. Polderman rightly
observed adding that our personal hygiene habits
tend te Keep the amount of bacteria in our
mouths under control. Bur. he added, toothpaste
and mouthwash kif some of the good bacteria in
our mouths leaving behind the more resistant bacteria, Ina
dog's mouth, it’s more of a free-for-all where good bacteria
is left to duke it out with the bad bacteria — nature's own
Listerine.

Who knows the human mouth better thin the family den-
tist? Perhaps Dr. Stephen Geoghegan can help me shine

sin these deep recesses.

Dr. Geoghegan is a busy guy, and we grab a quick minute
benween appointments. Before | even ask the question, one
look at him gives a strong indication as to where the den-
tistry community sits on this question. With one of his rub-
ber-gloved hands, he pulls down his protective mask and lifts
his goggles.

“[ started wearing gloves in 1984," he says. “Dentists
now take whar we call universal precautions which are mainly

Dr, Geoghegan explains that hepartis is core virulent,
and therefere mare of a concern to dentists, than APDS, aad
while che mouth itself may not be the carrer of many other
potentially harmful germs, our breath or respiratory system
can be, According ta Dr. Geoghegan, dogs don't get colds
and rarely get cavities, bur they do get gum disease. Our oral
hygiene remmeny reduce the quantity of bacteria in our
mouths, but there is no mouthwash or tloss thar will Kill off
the bacteria that cause infectious diseases.

Its true that dogs have sume nasty personal hygiene
habits and. if poorly maintained by their owners, can carry
haman hazards such as roundwarn,

Veterinarians routinely de-worn all puppies and kittens,
and pet owners should monitor them for reinfection
throughout their lives. As for rabies, bats are the only species
in B.C. known to carry rabies and our pet popuiarion is vir-
tually rabies-free, CYravellers shouid be cautious of dag
encounters in other countries where rabies can be endemic.)

Suill, in North America, the handful of serious cases of
roundworm or rabies passed each vear from dog to hurnan
pales in contrast to the millions of cases of AIDS, hepats
herpes and the common cold that our species exchanges ve
in and vear out.

After talking to the experts and weighing the facts, the
next time my dog displays a burst of saliva-coated affection
towerds our hitdest family member, FH be able to say with
some comfort and authority: “You know, a dog’s mouth is
cleaner than a human's.”

—~ Harseshoe Bay writer Julie Wright concriluies a monthly col-
nin to the This Week section. She can be veached by e-mail at
pwrightédirectca

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