We roared with laughter when we read the letter from a woman who told us that her uncle’s little terrier had cured his long-standing case of athlete’s foot.
Every evening when he got home, he would take off his shoes and socks, put his feet up, and read the newspaper. The dog would run to him and lick his feet all over in affectionate greeting.
In a few months, he realized that the athlete’s foot that had plagued him was no longer a problem.
Dog saliva does have some antimicrobial properties. Dutch researchers have identified compounds in human saliva called histatins that have antifungal activity. Canine saliva may also have similar properties.
Do not try this remedy if the skin is broken, however, since dogs can carry bacteria in their mouths.
