Top 3 Reasons Why Your Dog Licks Your Wounds and Cuts

A few of the reasons for the behavior might be admirable but having your dog lick your wound is not something you want to encourage for various health reasons.

1. Caring for your wound

Dogs are social animals. They may lick your wounds and cuts because they love you and want to take care of you. Unfortunately, you open yourself up to infections and diseases if you let your dog lick your wounds especially if they are open or bleeding. Think about what else a dog may lick throughout the day!

2. Dog likes the taste

Your dog might be a mini vampire. They might like the scent and taste of fresh blood that comes out from the wound. Don’t take this the wrong way though! Dogs are just being dogs and some may not be able to resist the raw taste as much as others.

3. Dog feels anxious

Some dogs follow the lead of their owners. They may become anxious if the owner is in pain and also behaving anxiously. Dogs may lick wounds and cuts as a response to a situation whenever the person with the injury is expressing some sort of pain. Licking is a self-soothing method for dogs.

Is it good if a dog licks your wounds?

Researchers have found a protein in the dog’s saliva that may speed up the healing of wounds and cuts. That, however, doesn’t mean it’s good for dogs to lick your wounds. The concerns outweigh any potential benefits. Many kinds of bacteria may exist in the dog’s saliva with some more dangerous than others. In rare cases, some of these bacteria may spread to people. An open wound is like an open invitation to some of these bacteria. You shouldn’t let your dog lick your wound at any time.