Skip to Content

Why Does My Dog Lick My Wounds [Reasons with Prevention]

Dogs show themselves in a variety of paths depending on their mood.

Their actions and reactions tell us actually what they are feeling.

Similarly, dogs licking their owner’s wounds have some reasons.

Firstly, licking wounds is a straightforward approach for dogs to show their love for you. Also, it could taste good for him, for pain relief to his owners, property of healing, or possibly to clean his owner’s wounds. It can say that dogs are concerned about their owners.

Seems interesting? Wanna know the details of it? Not to worry!

Now we are going to present an article about this matter. I hope that, after reading this, you will understand this topic.

Then, let’s jump into the next segment!

Why Does a Dog Want to Lick Wounds?

They lick the wounds on your dog. And they will eagerly lick your injuries as well. Even they lick other dogs’ ears. Mainly It’s a simple way for them to express their affection for you. You can tell they are worried about you.

Instinct

Licking one’s wounds is a natural reflex for almost all creatures involving humans. Have any of you ever cut your finger and popped it into your mouth to see what would happen next? You most likely did it without even realizing what you were doing.

When they are in pain, humans lick their wounds to soothe themselves. Similarly, dogs have this tendency, as do humans. Dogs only have to care for the injuries on their tongues. Therefore, it’s only standard that they’d lick their wounds.

Cleaning

Licking a wound can have a variety of functions, including wound cleanup. Any dust and dirt from the injury are removed by licking the dog. Its tongue is adapted for combing and can pick up large amounts of dirt.

For cleaning debris, people have cleaning solutions. When it comes to cleaning a wound. Dogs have no further option except to lick maintenance.

Over-licking by a dog may lead to infection and further injury. Over-licking by a dog may lead to illness and additional damage. Unavoidably, a few dogs are a little too exuberant. But exuberant dogs can be calmed too.

Property of Healing

Dog saliva has long been believed to have medicinal powers by practitioners of traditional treatment.

Histatins, which are found in saliva, help prevent wound disorders. It also induces the skin cells covering the wound to seal around it, which aids in wound therapy and recovery. 

Infection can be prevented by using nitric oxide since it has antimicrobial qualities. The nitrite in the saliva is also converted to nitric oxide in the wound. Therefore it is beneficial.

Pack Part

An additional reason is that they regard you as a pack member. The biological tendency of dogs is to lick the wounds of other dogs. When it comes to caring for other pack members, it is their responsibility.

They will lick your wounds the same way they’ll lick the wounds of other dogs. Eventually, they lick other dogs’ faces. Their pack analyzes you to be a valuable member. And they take great care to ensure that you are well and happy.

It Tastes Good to Him

Some canines seem to like the taste of your wound, which is as disgusting as it may sound. 

The taste of raw flesh and blood appeals to dogs and predators who feed on them. As soon as you get a cut, they will get a taste of the blood, which they will devour.

Also, tracking minerals such as salt that they detect on the wound and your skin may appeal to them.

Pain

Dogs often have a sixth sense relating to their master’s moods and thoughts. They know your emotions, including happiness, sadness, and suffering.

Your dog may want to kiss your wound if they realize you are uncomfortable. They also lick your feet

Dogs lick their wounds to soothe their discomfort when they are in agony. The desire to provide the same level of care while someone is in pain is understandable.

How to Prevent Your Dog From Licking Your Wounds

Once it is established that allowing your dog to lick your wound is terrible. How can you convince them to quit? 

Although few dogs show slight curiosity about wounds, others can get preoccupied with their owners’ bodies.

The good thing is that you can take precautions to keep your dog from licking your wounds.

Clean

Cleanse the wound first. And then apply pressure on it. If you don’t care for the damage, you can assume your dog will do it. It is when cuts are fresh that dogs are attracted to the most.

Dogs are less likely to be curious about anything if it has been cleaned thoroughly by you. It is considered that a fresh wound has a distinct fragrance from a previously healed one. The odor of blood will be more prominent this time around.

A dog may be deterred by applying antibiotic cream to the lesion since the smell of the wound changes as a result of this.

Cover

Using it to protect the wound can also be beneficial, especially if your dog licks it until you have cleared it.

The use of a bandage helps conceal minor wounds. It can also make it recover more quickly if you wrap it up. Large bandages or gauze may be required for more severe injuries.

Distract

It is possible to divert yourself once you have cleaned and wrapped your wound. Interact with your dog or offer them a treat to encourage them to be playful. But you have to be quite cautious when doing so.

FAQs

Is it suitable for a dog to lick your wounds?

Licking too much can cause discomfort, which can lead to hot areas and infections in the long term. Because it causes wounds to licking can further hinder recovery, you may need to limit how much you allow your pet to lick.

When it comes to wound healing, is dog saliva adequate?

Nothing in a dog’s saliva can speed up wound healing. Few bacteria can survive in dog saliva. But the benefits are often limited to that point in the process. Licking doesn’t help them heal. It only keeps them clean to avoid infection.

Is dog saliva harmful to the skin?

Human skin in good condition is unlikely to be harmed by dog saliva. But skin damaged or infected by dog saliva may experience irritation. Your mucous membranes are most vulnerable when saliva comes into touch with them.