11
May
Why Does My Puppy Lick My Cuts. This instinct reduces the risk of infection as it helps mammals keep their open wounds clean. They also lick their sore spots even if there is no open wound eg. Dogs will want to lick your hands and face as part of the grooming process. But instinct can be biologically based and often serves a purpose.
Nobody instructs a child to suck a burned finger and nobody teaches a dog to lick a cut paw. Many mammal species cats rodents horses primates are known to exhibit wound-licking behavior 1. So while your dog sniffing at wounds is acceptable and even welcome behavior you shouldnt encourage your dog to lick your wounds their wounds or anyone elses. Sometimes they can even lick the scrapes and cuts of other animal species. Thats all they can do. It also brings us back to the idea of your dog seeing you as one of the pack.
Dogs instinctively lick wounds.
Dogs instinctively lick wounds. If your dog licks a particular area excessively and persistently check to see if he has a cut bruise or swelling. But instinct can be biologically based and often serves a purpose. The reason is probably that in pre-medicine times wound licking was the best option to clean a wound and promote its healing. Many mammal species cats rodents horses primates are known to exhibit wound-licking behavior 1. Thats because pets can get obsessed with licking to the detriment of healthy skin.