why do dogs lick their own wounds and those of people? Is there a therapeutic component in their saliva?

Question

my dog always knows if i have a cut or sore of any kind.

Answer 1

It's a natural reaction for most creatures to use the mouth/tongue as a healing agent. Ever cut or burn your finger? What's the first thing you do? Stick it in your mouth! As a temporary solution, saliva can help a wound to make it feel better. It also helps clean the wound out initially (since dogs can't exactly run to the sink and wash it out properly).
However, as medical science has advanced, we have come to realize that a dog licking his wound is NOT very healing in the long-run. It can actually make things far worse by causing infection and more irritation (such as lick granulomas).

Answer 2

No there really isn't a therapeutic component in their saliva. In fact the saliva can be filled with bacteria. We always recommend not allowing the animal to lick at a wound site. They mostly seem to do it for comfort and to keep it someone clean. It hurts and lickings all they can really do for it themselves.

Answer 3

No, there isn't a therapeutic component. They do it because it's instinct - they can't clutch hold of whatever hurts and squeeze hard like we can. It's the same as you sucking your finger after a paper cut. Doesn't help, just feels like you should.

Dogs, cats and in fact all animals, and us, carry bacteria in the mouth, which is transferred to any wound they lick and may contribute to it becoming infected. This is why we try to stop dogs licking their wounds.

Chalice

Answer 4

reason there's a organic antibiotic in there saliva. a canines that licks a wound will heal faster than one this isn't. it even works on human beings. dont have faith next time you get decrease or harm enable the canines lick it. maximum human beings thinks it nasty. yet heres slightly familiar fact for you. a canines mouth is purifier than a human beings mouth. there develop right into a guy who owned like 10 wolfs they attacked him he went a have been given stitches have been given living house and the wolf pulled them out. they licked his wounds and all of them have been held up in decrease than 2wks.

Answer 5

Yes it does have therapeutic properties, it cools the wound,cleans(even though the mouth has bacteria, what is in the wound may be worse), and it promots the production of skin cells (have you ever noticed a wound in the mouth heals 2 to 3 times faster than anywhere else?).

Answer 6

I've heard that there is some healing agent in dog saliva. When they're wild and get hurt, thats how they clean it. I dont know if it works on people though

Answer 7

It DOES help them heal themselves...but don't let them lick YOURS, because you are susceptible to infections that a dog is not.