A veterinarian has issued an urgent warning about the potential dangers of kissing dogs or allowing them to lick you, following a shocking case where a woman was forced to undergo a quadruple amputation after being licked by her pet.
Marie Trainer, from Stark County, Ohio, experienced a life-changing ordeal after returning from a vacation in 2019 with a small cut on her hand. Upon arriving home, her dog greeted her with affectionate licks, something she thought was harmless. However, just days later, Marie’s health rapidly declined.
Marie explained to FOX News, “Four days later, I wasn’t feeling well and just got sicker and sicker.” Initially attributing her symptoms to the flu, her husband rushed her to the hospital. Doctors were initially puzzled by her condition, but things worsened quickly, and she fell into a coma.
Tests later revealed that Marie had contracted a bacterial infection from her dog, specifically Capnocytophaga canimorsus, a bacterium commonly found in the saliva of dogs and cats. When this bacteria enters the human body, particularly through cuts or open wounds, it can cause a severe immune response. In some cases, this response can lead to blood clots that block circulation to the limbs, requiring amputation.
Sadly, Marie had both her arms and legs amputated due to the complications. Experts are now warning that dogs can unknowingly transmit zoonotic diseases, which are illnesses passed from animals to humans, particularly when they lick humans, especially those with cuts or compromised immune systems.
Dr. Sophia Kenney, a researcher from Penn State, discussed the risks of zoonotic diseases, noting, “We often think about things like salmonella being transmitted through food sources such as eggs or beef, but we don’t usually think about the close bond we have with our pets. We let dogs sleep on our beds and lick our faces, but their mouths can carry bacteria like E. coli, campylobacter, and salmonella, which can be transferred to humans.”
Experts from the Falls Village Veterinary Hospital in Raleigh, North Carolina, also stressed the risks, emphasizing that dogs’ indiscriminate habits—like sniffing and licking everything—mean their mouths can carry dangerous bacteria that can cause gastrointestinal problems and infections.
Though most healthy adults might not experience severe effects, those with weaker immune systems or open wounds are at greater risk. Furthermore, dogs can also spread parasites such as giardia, roundworms, and hookworms through licking.
Marie’s life was forever altered by this experience, but she is now on a long road to recovery. She has undergone extensive rehabilitation and is learning to adapt to prosthetic limbs. Reflecting on her journey, she shared, “It’s been challenging. Learning how to walk was the hardest thing, but I’m doing good. I’m progressing.”
Her story serves as a stark reminder of the potential risks of close interactions with pets and highlights the importance of being cautious about pet hygiene, particularly when dealing with cuts or wounds.
