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a warning, please don't let any dog lick you

(53 Posts)
infoman Thu 24-Jul-25 03:04:52

A woman has died after a dog licked her wound, a court has heard.
June Baxter, 83, cut her leg after falling from her commode on June 29.
The retired legal secretary, who was alone when she fell, pressed her community call bell to alert her granddaughter Caitlan Allin, who acts as her main carer.
Ms Allin arrived at the house in Attleborough with her dog, which licked the wound, Norfolk Coroner’s Court heard.
Mrs Baxter told her granddaughter she felt unwell the following day and was taken to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital on July 1.
Tests revealed the presence of pasteurella multocida - a bacterium commonly found in the mouths of animals.
Mrs Baxter’s condition deteriorated despite treatment and she died from septic shock on July 7. Secondary causes of death included kidney, liver and heart conditions.
On Tuesday, Coroner Johanna Thompson recorded a conclusion of accidental death.
In a statement to court, Mrs Baxter’s daughter, Clare Wootten, said her “independent and determined” mother has previously suffered from sepsis.
Mrs Wootten said she had not personally seen a dog lick Mrs Baxter’s leg, but said there was a “possibility” it could have happened and “agreed with the cause of death”.
Mrs Baxter’s family were not in court, but the coroner said they had seen the evidence and were content with the inquest to be conducted in their absence.
Ms Thompson said: “Mrs Baxter was in frail health. On June 29 she was found to have injured her leg at her home.
“On the following day she reported feeling unwell. She was
taken to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital where she was diagnosed with an infection which was subsequently identified to be arising from a domestic dog lick.”

nanna8 Thu 24-Jul-25 06:36:43

Oh dear- my cats lick me all the time. I will be careful not to let them lick near any wounds now !

Iam64 Thu 24-Jul-25 07:30:40

Dogs and cats shouldn’t be allowed to lick wounds. Any minor dog or cat bite should be treated by the anti biotic your GP prescribes. I got a tiny tooth sized break in the skin on my hand after my lab reacted to a German shepherd who’d had a go at him. My hand got in the way, no bite on me intended, I saw the pharmacist, he advised to contact my GP. I got a phone call back within the hour, I asked for antibiotic cream. My GP explained any minor bite needs strong antibiotics. I was prescribed a week and given clear instructions on the need to keep it clean and phone if concerned

dogsmother Thu 24-Jul-25 07:40:17

Hm people still under the impression that animals lick themselves to clean and and wash so they must have have some kind of antibacterial properties. It beggars belief but I have come across it before with very serious consequences sadly.

Astitchintime Thu 24-Jul-25 07:44:02

Have to wonder why the carer didn’t clean the wound properly in the first instance …….either way, it is a sad situation that need not have happened.

I detest cats and that evidently shows in my body language as non ever come close to me and the only dog I interact with is my daughters……if she does lick it would only be my fingers when I give her a treat and I always wash my hands once she has left - basic hygiene practice. Why would you want any creature that licks its own bum to lick any part of your skin and not immediately wash afterwards ……..😱

keepingquiet Thu 24-Jul-25 08:18:28

This is very sad...

Luckygirl3 Thu 24-Jul-25 08:23:42

Very sad indeed.
No animals lick me ... ever!
Can't begin to imagine why anyone would allow it/want it. Just weird!

Primrose53 Thu 24-Jul-25 09:04:06

It makes me 🤮 when I see people kissing their dogs on the lips or allowing their dogs to lick them, especially on their faces.

I always had dogs until a few years ago but they never licked any humans.

karmalady Thu 24-Jul-25 09:20:22

The body has several areas with moist mucus membranes that allow transmission via the membrane into the body. Eyes, mouth, nose etc. People who allow their pets to lick anywhere, except hands that they can be scrubbed, are quite honestly asking for trouble. Lips for example, let a dog or cat lick lips, put your tongue over your lips and Bobs your uncle, infection found an easy way in

Pets groom themselves and other animals, including areas that might be for excretion, such as the anus. Then they also roll in poo, farmyard manure,fox poo etc

I had pets for many years, never once did I allow them to lick me or my family

Babs03 Thu 24-Jul-25 09:47:20

I love dogs, was brought up with them and until a few years ago always had at least one. But they were well trained and never tried to lick a person’s face. If you look at what dogs lick before licking a person’s face you would realise it is a revolting habit.

Graceless Thu 24-Jul-25 09:54:38

That's why dogs wear the cone of shame when they have a wound - to stop them licking it.

LaCrepescule Thu 24-Jul-25 14:15:17

The thread title is alarmist. Probably not a good idea to let a dog lick a wound but to think that dog licking in general is a possible death sentence is utter twaddle.

Blossoming Thu 24-Jul-25 14:19:45

I never allow any dogs to lick me.

Esmay Thu 24-Jul-25 14:33:41

And be careful of cats too !
Much as I love dogs and cats -I dislike them licking me.
I clean anything suspect with tea tree oil and wash my hands after touching them.
I once had a massive absess on my thigh and had to have a drain inserted to remove the pus and courses of antibiotics to take.
I was told that I had the beginnings of sepsis and might need surgery .
It drained and the antibiotics worked.
Looking back I'd spent an afternoon at a boyfriend's house and his mother's cat had throughly enjoyed padding up and down on my leg .
My cat really likes you ,but I hope that he's not hurting you ,said the lady .
Actually he was digging his claws right into my thigh ,but I was too polite to say anything.

itsadogslife Thu 24-Jul-25 14:35:51

LaCrepescule

The thread title is alarmist. Probably not a good idea to let a dog lick a wound but to think that dog licking in general is a possible death sentence is utter twaddle.

hear, hear!
I've had many dogs and yes, they licked me sometimes and no, I have never caught anything from them. Humans yes, dogs, no.

Hopikins Thu 24-Jul-25 14:50:36

It wasn't proved a dog had licked the wound it was just supposition. I wouldn't let my dog lick my wounds in case I infected her.

dalrymple23 Thu 24-Jul-25 15:19:04

Love it Hopi!! My old gardener, who was previously a pig farmer, always got his black lab to lick any wound. Never had a day's illness in his life. His view that a dog's saliva was the greatest antibiotic!

Similarly, over 50 years, we have been licked to death but never, ever infected (wrong analogy!).

I might be wrong but I think that cats are a different kettle of fish. They scrape in their kitty litter and faeces get onto their claws, so more prone to spreading infection.

Whingey Thu 24-Jul-25 18:05:49

We took our dog swimming over Epping Forest and he always rolled in cowpats afterwards 😨

Whitewavemark2 Thu 24-Jul-25 20:13:23

Man has lived with dogs for over 30000 years.

We seem to have managed that relationship quite reasonably including licking so far.

Iam64 Thu 24-Jul-25 20:14:32

itsadogslife

LaCrepescule

The thread title is alarmist. Probably not a good idea to let a dog lick a wound but to think that dog licking in general is a possible death sentence is utter twaddle.

hear, hear!
I've had many dogs and yes, they licked me sometimes and no, I have never caught anything from them. Humans yes, dogs, no.

Yes 🌞🐕🐶
People and children who live with pets are healthy and happy

Esmay Thu 24-Jul-25 21:07:59

Probably a knee jerk reaction on my part.
Any of us can get an abscess and a risk of sepsis at anytime.
My friend has just come out of hospital having developed sepsis from gardening.
I met a retired hairdresser who nearly lost her arm when a tiny fragment of hair was trapped in her nail .
I guess that we are all at risk according to our age and immune system .

Iam64 Thu 24-Jul-25 21:11:28

I agree Esmay. I can’t imagine life without my dogs

lemsip Thu 24-Jul-25 21:48:31

I can only presume that some posters have not bothered to read the OP which is the actual article on and in the news!

Gillycats Thu 24-Jul-25 22:00:08

I’m very much of the view that people need to build up immunity as much as possible. My kids played in mud and we’ve always had pets. I’m not suggesting that people should encourage dogs to lick their faces but having some exposure to germs isn’t necessarily a bad thing. And let’s not forget that the dirtiest things of all are cash and PDQ pin pads. They’re rank!

nanna8 Fri 25-Jul-25 02:10:21

I wouldn’t let a dog lick me I have to say. I’m a cat person and my cats wouldn’t be impressed to sniff a smelly dog lick! 🐶 🐈