Is It Bad If My Dog Licks His Wound. Because this is such common behavior many people believe that when a dog licks a wound it will promote healing. Although your dog means well when it tries to lick your wounds canine saliva can cause infections in humans. Licking might offer some protection against certain bacteria but there are serious drawbacks to letting your dog lick wounds. Like most animal activities wound licking has its roots in behavior that would be beneficial under different circumstances.
One question without a clear answer is whether you should let a dog lick his wound. It is extremely painful but as weve mentioned the dogs are masters at hiding signs they will try to stick to their. Although your dog means well when it tries to lick your wounds canine saliva can cause infections in humans. The most apparent sign of an injury is if your dog is limping and cannot walk properly. This is especially true if your dog had surgery or stitches. But when dogs and cats are truly injured allowing them to lick their wounds can do more harm than good.
Is it safe for my dog to be licking his wound after his stitches have been removed.
Currently it seems that despite there are some beneficial substances in a dogs saliva there is a risk of infection due to the presence of harmful microorganisms. Should Dogs Be Allowed to Lick Their Wounds. Yes you should let your dog lick his wounds unless he is licking exessively. It is a part of how they are wired. It is rare for dog saliva to cause serious injury but it has in more than one case. If theres any evidence of a wound hair loss or even thinning of the fur continual licking of the area is considered excessive.