Mr_Snow Posted September 3, 2010 Share Posted September 3, 2010 A discussion has started at home because I've got a graze on my leg, I'm not that aghast against my dog licking my wound aslong as it doesn't go too far (and I have to stop him continuing).... ...My partner is not too keen on it. Now we've both heard the myth about dogs licking your wounds, but a search online has raised both for & against reasons. Obviously different dogs will have different habits (eating poo etc) but where lies some type of consensus. Have I been sucked into old wives tales? What do the DOLforumites think on the matter?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swizzlestick Posted September 3, 2010 Share Posted September 3, 2010 Um.....no I'd never let a dog lick a wound. That's gross! I hate it when mine try and lick the water off my legs when I've just jumped out of the shower, let alone a wound. The amount of bacteria even in a healthy dogs mouth that doesn't appear to have dental problems, is still more than I'd like near any open wound of mine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wuffles Posted September 3, 2010 Share Posted September 3, 2010 I don't let mine do it, not that I have any good reason for or against. Our big boy in particular is obsessed with wounds of any kind, whether they're on another animal or a human. He's found papercuts on my fingers before I've even noticed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted September 3, 2010 Share Posted September 3, 2010 Eeeeeeeewwwww. Human germies on dog's tongue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swizzlestick Posted September 3, 2010 Share Posted September 3, 2010 Eeeeeeeewwwww. Human germies on dog's tongue. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
♪♫LMBC♫♪ Posted September 3, 2010 Share Posted September 3, 2010 Why would you let your dog lick a wound? You're just introducing bacteria and opening yourself up for a possible infection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snow_wolf Posted September 3, 2010 Share Posted September 3, 2010 When i was young, some1 told me its good for your wounds. So i let my dog lick a small cut i had on my hand. I dont think it made a difference. I wouldn't do it now though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christina Posted September 3, 2010 Share Posted September 3, 2010 They do it as a primitive thing. They are getting ready to eat you after you have been mauled My cats as well as the dogs always find even tiny scratches & want to lick them. after eating raw meat, washing their bums & sticking noses into any smelly thing they find I doubt it would have much healing power. Betadine is a better option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parkeyre Posted September 3, 2010 Share Posted September 3, 2010 I wouldn't do it, but so long as you're both wormed? lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirislin Posted September 3, 2010 Share Posted September 3, 2010 They do it as a primitive thing. They are getting ready to eat you after you have been mauled ;) My cats as well as the dogs always find even tiny scratches & want to lick them. after eating raw meat, washing their bums & sticking noses into any smelly thing they find I doubt it would have much healing power. Betadine is a better option. This sounds pretty practical to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*Avanti* Posted September 3, 2010 Share Posted September 3, 2010 (edited) A discussion has started at home because I've got a graze on my leg,I'm not that aghast against my dog licking my wound aslong as it doesn't go too far (and I have to stop him continuing).... ...My partner is not too keen on it. Now we've both heard the myth about dogs licking your wounds, but a search online has raised both for & against reasons. Obviously different dogs will have different habits (eating poo etc) but where lies some type of consensus. Have I been sucked into old wives tales? What do the DOLforumites think on the matter?? Well, being 'your' leg what does 'your' instinct tell you? Out of caution and lack of knowledge about germs in humans and germs in dogs I would prefer my dog did not lick any wound I had. Just common sense really, try salt instead perhaps! Would you lick any wound your dog had? Edited September 3, 2010 by LabTested Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haylz27 Posted September 3, 2010 Share Posted September 3, 2010 No, I wouldn't let my dog lick my wounds... The saying that a dog's mouth is cleaner then a humans isn't necessarily even true. They have all kinds of nasty bacterias, just like us. Put some antiseptic cream on your graze instead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdierikx Posted September 3, 2010 Share Posted September 3, 2010 Zeddy and Trouble will sometimes lick wounds I get... they seem to heal just fine... T. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaar Posted September 3, 2010 Share Posted September 3, 2010 It's not just the bacteria but if it's an open wound a dogs rough tongue could open it up more and make it worse, plus wounds should be kept dry to heal faster. I have really bad eczema on the palms of my hands and one of my boys goes crazy trying to get at them, doesn't mean it's a good idea though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minxy Posted September 3, 2010 Share Posted September 3, 2010 I always did as a kid. I was told that it helped to heal your wounds - and yes, they did noticeably heal a lot quicker. I'm not sure I would still have a problem with it now really. Maybe I'm just waaaaay too comfortable with my pets Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rastus_froggy Posted September 3, 2010 Share Posted September 3, 2010 Yuck gross but here are 2 other suggestions, maybe you could lick it yourself or just apply maggots to it, they are also meant to help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Flying Furball Posted September 3, 2010 Share Posted September 3, 2010 It's not just the bacteria but if it's an open wound a dogs rough tongue could open it up more and make it worse, plus wounds should be kept dry to heal faster. This is the other point...licking may keep it open, preventing the graze from healing. It is a bad idea all round I would say to let your dog do this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeavyPaws Posted September 3, 2010 Share Posted September 3, 2010 When I was a kid, my grandma always told me to lick my own wounds, your own spit seals them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just love my dogs! Posted September 3, 2010 Share Posted September 3, 2010 My Dad used to say this when we were young. I don't know if it actually works. Never tried it because it sounds too gross! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jibba Posted September 3, 2010 Share Posted September 3, 2010 It's not just the bacteria but if it's an open wound a dogs rough tongue could open it up more and make it worse, plus wounds should be kept dry to heal faster.I have really bad eczema on the palms of my hands and one of my boys goes crazy trying to get at them, doesn't mean it's a good idea though. You must keep a wound moist for it to heal faster. My dog has licked my small wounds doesnt seem to make it any worse. My dads dog used to lick his psoriasis on one of his elbows, that elbow was a whole lot better than the other one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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