Can You Get E. Coli From Your Dog?

Have you banned your dog from your bed, even stopped allowing Spanky to kiss your face for fear of contracting E. Coli?  These are important bonding experiences between dogs and their human pack members, and became part of Kate Stenke’s doctoral research.

Stenske, a veterinarian and assistant professor at Kansas State’s College of Veterinary Medicine researched those who eschew the above bonding practices, and those who don’t.  Since more than 50% of dog owners surveyed let their dogs sleep with them, lick their faces, and less than 50% share food with them, Stenske was  interested in any possible public health impacts.

Stenske says that diseases can be shared between humans and dogs noting that “about 75% of all emerging diseases are zoonotic, meaning transferrable between humans and other animals.”  Humans and dogs carry common E. coli in their gastrointestinal tracts and Stenske says it usually doesn’t cause any problems, unless it acquires genes that make it antibiotic resistant.

Her study, reported in ScienceDaily, found no difference between the two groups bonding behavior choices and an increase of shared E. coli.  In fact, it revealed it is more likely that humans could pass the antibiotic resistant strains to their dogs.  Stenske warned that there was evidence of antibiotic resistant strains occuring in owners who “didn’t wash their hands after petting or handling their dogs or before cooking meals.”  I think I hear my Mom saying “I told you so…”

Stenske’s study findings are good news for all dog families, and will be published in the American Journal of Veterinary Research…not that any contrary findings would affect my dog’s place on the bed, the sofa, or in the dog kisses always allowed, regardless of circumstance:)