Study Finds That Dogs Are Cleaner Than Bearded Men

A recent study by scientists in Switzerland has found that there were more germs in the beard of a man than in the fur of a dog.

 

Researchers at the Hirslanden Clinic tested swabs from the beards of 18 men aged 18-76 and discovered that almost all of the beards were filled with bacteria and had high microbial counts. A number of the beards tested even harbored germs that could be harmful to human health

 

The research team compared the beard samples to swabs taken from the necks of 30 dogs in various breeds and found that the dogs tested showed significantly lower microbial counts.

 

The researchers were originally testing whether it was hygienic for humans to use the same MRI machines as vets use to test dogs. 

 

From the study, scientists gathered that bearded men harbor "a significantly higher burden of microbes" than dogs and "dogs can be considered as clean compared with bearded men" if not cleaner.

 

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written by

Katelyn Buck