Dogs are natural scavengers and scavengers lick their wounds to clean them. This instinct may carry over to domestic dogs.
Dogs lick their fur as a way to groom themselves. This behavior may also extend to wounds, as dogs may lick them as a way to keep them clean and free of debris.
Dogs' saliva contains enzymes that can help to heal wounds. However, these enzymes are not strong enough to completely heal a wound on their own.
When a dog licks a wound, it can also introduce bacteria into the wound. This can make the wound worse and increase the risk of infection.
If you have a dog that licks wounds, there are a few things you can do to prevent it. One option is to put an Elizabethan collar on your dog.
Another option is to distract your dog when they start to lick their wound. You can do this by giving them a toy or by playing with them.
You can also train your dog not to lick their wounds. This may take some time and patience, but it is possible.