The beneficial effects of dog kisses

The fact, that dog saliva helps people to heal is true. It was already thought in the ancient Egypt that dog kisses accelerated the contraction of open wounds, and they were proved to be beneficial for diseases and for mental health.

Researches has verified the antibacterial properties of saliva. The positive effect is the consequence of three factors:

1. Lysozyme - enzyme that prevents the spread of bacteria with negative effects and the overgrowth of others in the mouth.
2. Histatin - simple protein that plays as antigen. It prevents the emergence of infections and helps the skin cells to get closer to each other.
3. Nerve growth factor - reduces the healing time of wounds by half- says Menno Oudhoff, biochemist of the University of Amsterdam.

Another study also states that it is worth endure to get dog kisses, because the helper bacteria of dog saliva boost our immunity. During aging the human body loses many good bacteria, and as a consequence, the mental and physical well-being decreases. Big kisses help to replace them by returning positive microorganisms.

To confirm the statement, aging people were paired with puppies. The result spoke for itself. The company provided by puppies did not only increase the number of positive bacteria, but also the intellectual activity. The last tests of the experiment showed that the time they spent together made both humans and dogs happy. In the end of the study the participants had the opportunity to adopt the poppies to begin a healthier life.
 

From this article it can be seen that the dog-human connection expands even under the skin.