I read a story about a Native American who was tortured by having the soles of his feet burned by a fire till they blistered. He escaped and some wolves came up later that night and started licking his feet. They kept coming back every night for several days and licked his feet. After a few days, his feet healed. Can a dog/wolf licking your feet heal them?
2006-10-17 10:40:24 · 10 answers · asked by letinplease 1 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Dogs do have stuff in their saliva but their mouth is still germy. Not sure about your story you heard is true or not but it sounds like it isn't. I would just get some ointment.
2006-10-17 10:44:31 · answer #1 · answered by your1starr 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sorry people, dogs saliva does not have stronger antiseptic qualities than human saliva does. As a matter of fact, chemically speaking, the enzymes are identical. In humans, dogs, and almost all mammals, the enzyme lysozyme is the only anit-bacterial agent. Canine saliva is LOADED with bacteria of all sorts. The lysozyme only kills a select few strains of bacteria. Human saliva contains the same thing. Canine saliva is in no way cleaner or healthier or more anti bacterial than what is in your mouth. There are enzymes that encourage healing in mammalian saliva, in dogs, humans, and other species. A dog licking your feet might help you heal better, but so will you spreading your own saliva on it. If there is any open sores it is a BAD idea because new bacteria will be introduced. Dogs lick their own wounds to encourage healing, this is where that story comes from. The bacteria in the canine mouth is already being dealt with by its immune system. There are no antibodies in saliva, saliva containing the bacteria must enter into the body for the body to produce antibodies. But dogs swallow their own saliva, and bacteria can enter through microscopic oral abrasions. So when it licks its own wound the antibodies are already present in the blood stream in a lot of cases. When a dog licks your wound or another animals wound, the antibodies are not present and will often result in infection. Dogs mouths are full of bacteria. Ask any doctor, any vet, or anyone badly bitten by a dog. Drainage holes are left to help infections drain when there is a deep dog bite because of the large variety of bacteria found in dog saliva.
2016-05-21 21:43:56 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am not sure that a wolf or dog can come lick your feet and heal them. Maybe it is a myth.
What I do know is that the dog or wolf and all animals can sense when someone like the native American in the story is in pain. Animals come up to there owner and lick them or show signs of affectionate to make the owner heal. It is like a person trying to make another person feel better after something bad happened.
2006-10-17 10:49:27 · answer #3 · answered by lynx 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When I was pregnant, I developed a mild liver condition that made my hands and feet itch. I tried Benadryl, cortisone ointments, baby powder, everything in between, and nothing worked. Finally, one day I was laying on the sofa w/ my feet up, and my little Silky Terrier satred licking my feet. Well, the itch was gone and didn't come back for several hours! I think there's something to this. Dogs and other carnivores have certain enzymes in their saliva that help to break down proteins to help digestion. I believe that's what helps the healing process. It sure as heck made my last 6 weeks a lot more comfortable...
2006-10-17 10:57:14 · answer #4 · answered by Angela M 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are some questions going around the lab that dogs mouths are actually cleaner than we think but there is no real way to find out unless you want to blister your feet and have a dag like it. It is most likely an other Indian fairytale.
2006-10-17 10:45:56 · answer #5 · answered by Megan S 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i have never heard this story before, but my dog licks my feet everynight almost. i have suffered with pains in my feet which the doctors cannot find a cause for and i hardly ever have them anymore. whether it heals or not i dont know but it sure feels good.
2006-10-17 10:58:00 · answer #6 · answered by donna r 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i've heard the same thing too.. dogs licking parts of your body can help to heal them faster
2006-10-17 11:42:24 · answer #7 · answered by lilteacher18848 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no, because my cousin has a dog and when he got a wound and he tried to make his dog lick it it won't heal sometimes it causes infection to your wound and made it worse. did you know that dogs saliva has this bacteria because of the certain foods they eat.(THAT'S ONLY MY OPINION AND DON'T HATE ME)
2006-10-17 10:44:54 · answer #8 · answered by jansel 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes, their saliva can help heal wounds faster since it contains antiseptic. They can also tell if you are sick or ache and even where you are feeling the pain
2006-10-17 21:38:51 · answer #9 · answered by Scooby 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
did you ever hear of ointment i doubt it is true
2006-10-17 10:47:10 · answer #10 · answered by jark 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋