Why Do Dogs Lick Their Own Wounds? Vet-Verified Facts & Management Solutions
If your dog has ever had an injury, you’ve likely seen them try to lick their wound. But why does almost every dog try to lick their wounds, and should you let them do it?
We’ll dive into everything you need to know about why dogs lick their wounds. Since dogs don't have hands to treat their injury, they use their tongues, but you shouldn’t let them do it. It might be a bit frustrating to get them to stop, but we’ve also highlighted a few ways you can get them to stop licking their wounds for you here!
Why Do Dogs Lick Their Own Wounds?
It's instinctual for dogs to lick their wounds. Dogs also naturally lick areas that feel painful, irritated, inflamed, or unusual as part of normal grooming and self-soothing behavior. They don’t have hands like us that they can use to treat their injuries, so their next best option is their tongues. When dogs lick their wounds, it may help them in a few ways. First, it may provide temporary soothing stimulation or relief from discomfort. When you rub or hold a wounded area on your body to temporarily relieve the pain, the same may be true for your dog.
Moreover, dog saliva has slight antibacterial properties against specific types of bacteria. It’s not the most effective cleaning agent, but before dogs had access to modern medicine, it was their only option.
Licking their wounds is one instinctive way dogs may attempt to respond to irritation or injury, and they will do whatever they can to help themselves, even if it does more harm than good in the end.
Should You Let Your Dog Lick Their Wounds?
Since their tongues have limited antibacterial properties, it might seem like it’s not a bad idea to let your pup lick their wounds. However, it can still cause an infection.
Not only that, but a dog licking their wound excessively can lead to further irritation, hot spots, and more damage to the area. Licking may have provided some limited cleaning benefits in the absence of medical care, but since you can give them the medicine they need, it’s best to keep them from licking their wounds.
How to Keep Your Dog From Licking Wounds
Because your dog licking their wounds can cause more harm than good, keeping them from licking injured areas is best. If your dog cannot stop licking an injury, what can you do about it?
We’ve highlighted three ways you can try to keep your dog from licking their wounds:
1. Cones & Inflatable Collars
This is the classic way to keep your dog from licking a wounded area, and it’s the most popular option for a reason. Plastic cones and collars are effective at keeping your dog from licking a wounded area no matter where it’s at, but most dogs don’t like the way they feel.
They make softer cones compared to the hard plastic ones of the past, and many dogs find them more comfortable. Inflatable collars are typically far more comfortable for your dog, but some dogs still don’t like them.
2. Recovery Suits or Protective Garments
This might work, depending on the location and type of injury. If your dog has an injury on their stomach, a dog shirt might be all you need to help keep them from licking it. Remember that many dogs will still try to get to an injury even if they’re wearing clothing.
However, for smaller injuries and more compliant dogs, the clothes might be more comfortable than a cone or inflatable collar.
3. Dressings
No matter where your dog has an injury, you can always try putting a dressing over it to keep your dog from licking it. Like recovery suits or protective garments, many dogs will still try to get under the dressing to get to the injury, but for smaller injuries and dogs that aren’t quite as persistent, it might be a better option than a cone or inflatable collar.
Final Thoughts
Now that you know a little bit more about why a dog licks their wounds, what it can do, and ways you can keep them from doing it, the next time your dog gets an injury, you'll have a better idea of what to expect and what you can do about it.
It might be a natural instinct for your dog, but when you’re trying to do what’s best for them, you need to keep their tongues away from their injuries!
See also:
Sources
Featured Image Credit: fetrinka, Shutterstock
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Nicole has loved animals of all sizes her whole life so it's no wonder she has dedicated her career to helping them through what she loves best: learning, writing, and sharing knowledge with others. She’s the proud mom of two dogs, a cat, and a human. With a degree in Education and 15+ years of writing experience, Nicole wants to help pet parents and pets around the planet to live happy, safe, and healthy lives.
