What happens when you have a small wound? Does your dog try to lick it? Some dogs seem to love nothing better than licking our cuts and scratches. There are some people who even believe that a dog’s mouth is somehow antiseptic and can help a wound to heal faster. But can licking a wound make your dog sick?
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Has your dog licked a wound? Are you worried this could make your dog sick? If so, then you’ve come to the right place. We understand it can be scary when your dog does something like this.
In this article, we’ll take a look at whether or not a dog can get sick from licking a wound. Let’s get started!
Wound Licking & Dogs
Some dogs, who are very close to their pet parents, will try to lick their pet parent’s wound. Why? Because this is how dogs naturally take care of their own wounds.
It’s interesting to note that scientific research has shown that dog saliva does have some antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. For instance, dog saliva can kill off E. coli, Streptococcus canis (can be passed from dogs to humans), and more.
A dog’s tongue can also clean off the dirt on a wound. However, the research also found that dogs’ saliva is only slightly curative.
But can a dog get sick or make you sick by licking your wounds?
Licking Really Isn’t the Best Way to Heal a Wound
Despite what many people believe, allowing a dog to lick your wound really isn’t a good idea. For one thing, licking can cause a lot of irritation of the wound and surrounding tissues, which can create additional infections or even spread the infection that may already be in the wound.
What’s more, your dog may try to remove the scab on your wound, which can hinder and slow healing. And dogs can become sick from the infection that’s in your wound.
If you’re using medication on your wound, this could also be dangerous for your dog. Even triple antibiotic ointment could make a dog sick if he licked off enough of it. Another problem is the dog could be allergic to the medication on your wound.
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Ask a Vet Live NowSumming It Up
So, it’s best not to allow your dog to lick your wound. But If your canine companion does lick your wound and he becomes sick, then do call the vet right away. Let the vet know what’s happened, and if there were any medications on the wound, your fur baby has licked. This information will help the vet know what to do next to help your dog.
Connect with a verified veterinarian in minutes. Licensed vets are available 24/7 to answer your questions. No need to worry about your furry family member.
Kim
Kim is a talented author, who loves animals especially dogs. She engaged in writing books and articles relating to animals a decade ago. Kim resides in Chicago with her husband and son. The family is the proud owner of a dog and a parrot (Jack and Lily). Kim wanted more than these two pets, but her husband put his foot down... She often visits elementary schools to talk to the kids about what she learned about pets and how they could learn from them.
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