By your reasoning:
People carry c.dif, MRSA, VRSA, salmonella, Ebola, MERS, dermatophycosis (ring worm), TB, plain old cold viruses and of course we know every person washes their hands after going to the bathroom. Perhaps we should prohibit people visits to the hospital.
The idea that hospitals are a sterile environment is a serious misconception. Nosocomial (hospital acquired) infections are a very serious problem and an area of emphasis in health care right now.
No one is proposing that the hospital provide an open door to every dog and that every patient should be allowed visiting privileges to their dogs.
But, a well cared for dog does not carry a significant risk to any of the diseases that you list and the threat of zoonosis is relatively small compared to the potential benefit to the patient from visits in some situations.
Any hospital patient faces a greater risk from the health care worker that just was just in an adjoining room than from the healthy family dog.
The hyperbole of a butt licking dog is just that, exaggeration. As one who deals daily with veterinary illnesses and potential zoonotic threats, I would have no problem taking my dog to visit my family in the appropriate situations.
Doug, DVM
