Is it good to let my dog lick at a sore on its leg?

Question

Is the idea of licking to heal the wound?

Answer 1

NO! This is an old wive's tale. It started in the dark ages when it was observed that dogs lick their wounds and the wounds healed. (Remember, they also believed in magic back then.)

Just think about it for a minute. Dogs eat dead things that they find in the yard. They eat and their own excrement. They lick their anus. These things alone, and believe me, these are not the only things they eat or drink, are highly infectious. They are full of bacteria and viruses. Just what do you think killed that dead squirrel the dog just ate? And when a dog eats a dead animal, it is anus and all!

I am sorry to be blunt here, but this is a serious matter. And you should not be kissing your dog or letting him lick your face for the same reasons either.

SORRY, I MISUNDERSTOOD THE QUESTION, BUT I AM LETTING IT RIDE BECAUSE IT STILL APPLIES TO THE DOG LICKING IT'S OWN WOUND. PEACE!

Answer 2

No - the wound heals in spite of the licking, not because of it.

If it just licks the spot occasionally, it's not a big deal. But if the dog is licking it a lot, you should discourage that by cleaning and bandaging the wound and spraying bitter apple spray or Fooey! taste deterrent on the bandage so the dog will leave it alone. If the sore doesn't heal, get the dog to the vet before it becomes a lick granuloma.

http://www.thepetcenter.com/exa/lick.html

Sometimes licking at a sore can become an obsessive habit, and the dog will actually make the sore worse, creating a lick granuloma. Lick granulomas, once started, are VERY tough to get rid of. I used to have a dog that started out licking a sore on her leg & it progressed to a granuloma. To cure it, she had to get a steroid injection at the site, take antibiotics for 3 months, and wear an Elizabethan collar (a cone that went over her head so she couldn't reach her leg to lick it).

Answer 3

A dogs natural instinct is to lick a wound to heal it. This is what he would do if he were in the wild and not in your home. As long as he doesn't chew his leg and make the sore bigger or start bleeding, your dog should be fine, as the previous answer said, watch him and make sure he doesn't start to gnaw on himself a lot. If he does, take him to his vet for an ointment.

Answer 4

in the beggining, to clean it, dogs can lick the wound. or, you can take over nd wash it and do a better job.
but no, licking is not recommended. the dog will lick the healing bits right off - keeping the wound kind of raw. you should bandage it after cleaning it up with some gauze, then use some medical tape to close it. doggy may try to chew that off, and if he keeps doing that, then you shold jet one of those lampshade things.

Answer 5

i dont think it is. I dont have a dog, but my grandma has a cat that got injured and they had to put the thing on her head so she wouldnt lick it. I think they said if she kept licking it it wouldnt heal and would keep it open. im not positive but thats what i heard and would suggest. a vet would know for sure though!

Answer 6

its very good for a dog to lick his sore leg. if it has a cut then it will heal faster.something in the saliva heals it. if you had a cut in your mouth it would heal faster than if you had a cut anywhere else.

Answer 7

Yes. Naturally wolves lick their wounds to clear it of any dirt or parasites. So if your dog is licking its wound, its perfectly fine. As long as it doesnt have stitches.

Answer 8

A dog is going to lick and lick. Just watch him, so it doesn't get infected or turn into a hot spot.....

Answer 9

Not after a certain amount of time. He's trying to clean the sore, but it may just be making it worse by keeping it open and having his saliva in there.

Answer 10

no,, it most likely the licking that is causing the sore,,,, these are called "lick sores" "hot spots" and are often caused by boredom, stress,,, try giving him more exercise and playing with him,, try teaching him some commands/tricks...... entertain him