24
Oct
When a dog licks a wound–or a newborn puppy–it cleans it in much the same way you might clean a counter with a sponge. Mostly with domestic Dogs its a sign of affection.
It is common for animals like cats primates and rodents to lick their injuries.
Why dogs like to lick wounds. Licking wounds seems an instinctual reaction to the injury. Nobody instructs a child to suck a burned finger and nobody teaches a dog to lick a cut paw. But instinct can be biologically based and often serves a purpose.
When a dog licks a wound–or a newborn puppy–it cleans it in much the same way you might clean a counter with a sponge. Licking might offer some protection against certain bacteria but there are serious drawbacks to letting your dog lick wounds. Why dogs lick their wounds is pretty simple.
They do it because that is what they have learned to do. Either because they have had a wound before and licking it was soothing or because they learned it from another dog that they have known throughout their life. A dog does not understand bacteria and you can tell.
Dogs also lick because they like the taste of an owners salty skin and out of habit. Mostly with domestic Dogs its a sign of affection. Licking releases pleasurable endorphins which gives Dogs a feeling of comfort and pleasure like the feeling people get when they are biting their nails it.
There are also biological reasons as to why dogs lick wounds just as they lick themselves and people in general as a form of affection and communication. Your dog considers you as a part of their pack because their pack is their family. Its an interesting question so lets start with why they lick their own wounds first.
First of all a dogs saliva is very clean as compared to a humans. And of course their saliva contains enzymes etc. Which aid a dog in both cleaning their wounds and to promote healing.
The second reason is most likely instinct. First off simply the physical action of the dogs tongue on a wound can be helpful by loosening any debris that may be on the surface of the wound. Dogs cats small rodents horses and primates all lick wounds.
Saliva contains tissue factors wh. The enzyme lysozyme attacks the cell walls of certain bacteria. Proteins known as histatins and nerve growth factor expedite wound healing.
Another protein called tissue factor orthromboplastin promotes blood clotting. Licking wounds is an instinct that many mammals including dogs have. It is common for animals like cats primates and rodents to lick their injuries.
Sometimes they can even lick the scrapes and cuts of other animal species. This instinct reduces the risk of infection as it helps mammals keep their open wounds clean. Why do dogs lick woundsWound licking is an instinctive response in humans and many other animals to lick an injury.
Dogs cats small rodents horses and p. In short dogs lick their wounds because it can promote healing and relieve pain. And although licking can help the healing process in some wounds it can also cause more harm than good more on that below.
Wound licking is an instinctive response in dogs and its one thats found in many other animals such as cats primates and rodents. When dogs lick their wounds they are searching for a protein called fibrinogen. This protein acts like glue and holds the wound together.
Licking the wound allows the dog to take the fibrinogen through the mouth and then the protein dissolves into the wound and helps stabilize it. Why do dogs lick your wounds. Although we could argue that dogs lick us to reduce our stress levels as their Mothers did for them it is more likely that we have inadvertently taught our pooches that we like it when they kiss us therefore they continue to do so.
Licking is a natural action for dogs. They learned it from the grooming and affection given to them as puppies by their mothers. Dogs might lick your face if they can get to it.
If not they might just dog for any available patch of skin such as hands arms legs and feet. As dog fans we understand one thing dogs like to lick everything. However when it comes to injuries there seems to be a bit of confusion.
Is allowing your dog to lick their wounds beneficial or does it create extra harm. While it holds true that there are certainly potential benefits to your dog licking its wound it is essential to remember that the risks can outweigh the advantages. Wound licking is an instinctive response in humans and many other animals to lick an injuryDogs cats small rodents horses and primates all lick wounds.
Saliva contains tissue factor which promotes the blood clotting mechanismThe enzyme lysozyme is found in many tissues and is known to attack the cell walls of many gram-positive bacteria aiding in defense against infection. Of course licking isnt always a good thing. In many cases pets have a way of letting their tongues get the better of them.
In fact beyond brushing off big particles of dirt and imparting the occasional dose of saliva on a wound dogs tongues are better off where they belong in their mouths. Thats because pets can get obsessed with licking to the detriment of healthy skin.