• Dog Licking: Can Dogs Give You Germs When They Lick Your Face?
• Leishmania affects dogs along the Mediterranean
• Dog Food Recipe
• Just Added

Dog Licking: Can Dogs Give You Germs When They Lick Your Face?

Dogs use their long tongues for mopping up lunch crumbs, removing mud from their feet, and cleaning their privates. And yet, when they give our faces sloppy licks, there's something endearing about it. Apart from occasional attempts to retrieve bits of glazed doughnut from our chins, dogs lick us because they like us. It isn't a kiss, but it's close.

Almost as soon as they're born, dogs experience the soft warmth of their mothers' tongue, which bathes them with maternal affection. The licking never really stops after that. Mothers take advantage of their puppies' relative immobility during nursing to lick them clean. They also lick their bottoms to jump-start their impulses to relieve themselves.

Puppies do their share of licking too. They lick older dogs' chins and faces to greet them and show respect. And when they're hungry - and puppies are perpetually in search of something to eat - licking their mother will sometimes stimulate her to regurgitate a meal, which the puppies regard as an appetizing lunch.

As dogs get older, they lick each other less often, but they never quit entirely. At the very least, in the absence of hands and hairbrushes, they do each other's hair with their tongues.

A Show Of Respect

Dogs don't lick people because they're hoping for a hot meal. They lick because we're their parents, or at least the head folks in the house. Even when dogs are old, gray, and grizzled, they see themselves in some ways as being our children, and a lick shows how much they respect us.

You can tell a little bit about your dog's personality by how much licking she does. Dogs who are very bold or independent are restrained with their licking because they don't feel as though there is anyone they have to win over. Outgoing, sociable dogs, on the other hand, lick everyone all the time.

We play a role in all this licking too. It doesn't take dogs very long to learn that laying a wet one on the cheek is a great way to get cooed over and rubbed the right way. So in a way, the instinct to lick is both ancient and immediate; dogs do it naturally, and we en- courage them to do it more.

People are never sure how to react to licks. The first emotion is generally "Aw, that's cute," closely followed by "Yuck." Imagine where that tongue has been! But it's not as unhygienic as it seems. At worst, dog licks are like wiping your face with a slightly dirty washcloth. Not exactly cleansing, but hardly worth worrying about. In fact, there's some evidence that it may be good for you.

In the News

Leishmania affects dogs along the Mediterranean

As there is no vaccine or drug to cure it the disease is severe and often fatal to dogs. Primarily found in countries with hot climates such as Spain, Portugal, Algeria and Morocco the disease is carried by sand flies (nothing to do with sand).

Leishmania has some common signs. One of these is loss of hair, particularly around the eyes and on the muzzle. The dog will then begin to lose weight – while still maintaining a strong appetite – and skin sores may appear on areas where the skin is in contact with the ground when the dog is sitting or lying down. During the later stages of the disease claws can overgrow and become twisted.

Treatment does not solve the problem completely but can suppress the disease for a while. Drugs have to be injected and treatment can go on for a number of weeks.

The disease can remain dormant for any time between 3 and 18 months. Dogs that are well nourished and not physically over stressed can be resistant even if they are bitten by sand flies. However, the level of resistance is probably genetically determined.

Humans can also contract Leishmania, although only those with a damaged immune system are likely to be affected.

According to a Veterinarian Clinic based in Gibraltar the dogs affected are mainly those who have access to gardens and many wild plants. Also dogs that go to rural areas could be affected. However, the most likely time for your dog to get bitten is at night.

Sand flies rest during the day and come out at night. Around the Mediterranean area the sand fly season begins in May and ends in September. They do not like cold nights and although they do bite outside they are commonly found indoors.

Despite there being no treatment to rid dogs of the virus you can protect your dog from getting bitten, especially at night. Firstly, keep your dog indoors at night between the months of May and October. Make sure you get a blood test done if you suspect there might be something wrong – treatment should be started as soon as possible.

Courtesy of Vox (Gibraltar based Newspaper)

Dog Food Recipe

Every month we are going to try and prepare a fun recipe for you to try out at home. If anyone has a recipe to share with us feel free to send it in

Tasha’s Cookie Tack!

Ingredients

• 250 ml (1 cup) Water
• 150 ml (1/2 cup) bacon fat
• 1 ½ L (6 cup) flour

Directions

Mix all three ingredients by kneading them together. Prepare a floured surface and roll out the mix until it is 1/8 inch thick. Once rolled pierce the dough with a fork every ½ inch or so – make sure you pierce all the way through.

Once you have done the above its time to cut the dough into the shapes you want. You can use a knife to cut 3 inch squares. Preheat the oven at 160 degrees or 325 Fahrenheit. Place the squares on a greased cookie sheet and cook for an hour. Remember to turn the cookies once while cooking.

Leave in the oven to set and cool overnight. Enjoy!

Just Added

From all of us here at Labrador Lounge have a great month! We look forward to hearing your comments and getting the next edition of Labrador Lounge ready for you and your friends!