Q. Our Westie has cleared up my athlete’s foot completely. The sensation was a little odd at first as the dog licked both my feet. Still, it’s better than suffering with this fungal infection. This worked better than the creams and potions I’ve bought over the years. Has anyone else ever had this experience?
A. Dog lovers have written in from time to time with testimonials like yours. The first one we received stated:
“My uncle had his athlete’s foot cured by his small terrier dog back in the 50s. When my uncle came home in the evenings, he would remove his shoes and socks and put his feet on a hassock while reading the paper. The dog always went to him immediately and licked his feet all over, especially between the toes. After about three months, he noticed that the athlete’s foot which had plagued him for most of his adult life had gone away!”
Although dog saliva may have some anti-fungal properties, dogs often carry a variety of bacteria in their mouths, which could be a problem if saliva got on broken skin.
A vet tech added that:
“Not only is this ‘treatment’ ridiculous, it could be dangerous to your pet! Dogs and cats are can get fungal infections from human carriers. Not only that, but they can also transfer the same fungi back to you, other people and other pets.
“Treating pets for fungal infections can be costly and time consuming. If you love your furry friend and want to keep him/her healthy, please don’t recommend this remedy.”
