Kissing Dogs Boosts Immunity: Canines And Humans May Share Bond ‘Under The Skin’

Kissing your dog could provide one's body with probiotics that might help humans healthier and more immune to illnesses. This is what researchers from the University of Arizona want to find out if dogs and human's bond, that have existed for centuries now, also holds true deep down in our bodies.

According to Mail Online, Kim Kelly, an anthropology doctoral student and one of the research proponents said that they derived the idea from the special bond that canines shared with humans.

"We've co-evolved with dogs over the millennia, but nobody really understands what it is about this dog-human relationship that makes us feel good about being around dogs. Is it just that they're fuzzy and we like to pet them, or is there something else going on under the skin? The question really is, has the relationship between dogs and humans gotten under the skin? And we believe it has," he said.

As defined, probiotics consists of 'good' or 'helpful' bacteria that humans should have to maintain the health of one's intestines that can in turn, helps in good digestion and immunity. The human body is said to have 500 types of bacteria that include both 'good' and 'bad' ones.

We think dogs might work as probiotics to enhance the health of the bacteria that live in our guts. These bacteria or the 'microbiota,' are increasingly recognized as playing an essential role in our mental and physical health, especially as we age" Dr. Charles Raison, principal investigator for the study and a UA professor of psychiatry in the College of Medicine, said via HNGN.

In the study, the researchers will gather volunteers who are at least 50 years old to live with their chosen dog for three months. The participants' gut bacteria, diet, physical activity levels and immune function will be examined before they cohabit with their pets. Dogs, in turn, will also be examined in terms of their gut bacteria and physical activity.

In addition to that, The Independent said that in the span of three months, there will be tests determining if there are changes on the amount of microflora between humans and dogs in their union. The emotional well-being of the subjects will also be investigated.

The researchers are said to collaborate with other researchers from the UA Department of Psychiatry, the UA Norton School of Family and Consumer Sciences, the UA School of Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences, and the University of California, San Diego investigating the link between humans and dogs in this aspect.