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Mar
Should You Let A Dog Lick A Wound. When it comes to dogs licking their own wounds a heavy amount of licking is likely to break down stitches and suture and re-open any closed wounds leaving them vulnerable to infection and the accumulation of dirt and. Many dogs will require a protective collar see handout Elizabethan Collars in Dogs for more information to prevent them from injuring the site. Saliva does have some antibacterial properties but licking can do more harm than good. Why do dogs lick human wounds.
Elizabethan collars surgical suits T-shirts and bandages offer protection from licking. It is important to prevent the skin from healing over the wound too quickly. Licking can introduce bacteria which can lead to infections. When it comes to dogs licking their own wounds a heavy amount of licking is likely to break down stitches and suture and re-open any closed wounds leaving them vulnerable to infection and the accumulation of dirt and. If that is the case it is suggested that you allow your dog to lick your wound. If its getting serious if it gets larger if hair starts to thin or disappear or if the wound is still wet after a day or two please see your vet.
It is important to prevent the skin from healing over the wound too quickly.
Dogs can carry around this bacteria with very little effect on their own health but when an owner comes into contact with it Yeah its a bad time. The more a dog licks the more dirt and loose skin will adhere to the saliva on its tongue and be removed from the open sore. Why Dogs Lick Their Wounds. It can be helpful in trusting this process so no infection is created. So limiting access to wounds particularly surgical ones with stitches is important. For wild or feral dogs licking is probably beneficial in cleaning a wound.