Dogs’ healing capabilities are geared toward dogs, so they don’t benefit humans in the same way. In fact, there are some risks to letting a dog lick an open wound. Most people have heard the myth: dog’s saliva heals. But is that myth based in fact? What if your dog has recently licked your cut or scratch? Read on to find out.
Ancient People Believed Dog Saliva Could Heal
Many people are familiar with the fact that Egyptians worshipped cats, but they also had dog deities, such as Anubis, the god of the afterlife. Ancient Egyptians kept dogs as hunters, guards, and companions. They even mummified some of their dogs. Ancient Egyptians believed that having a dog lick your wound would speed healing. They had temples where people could come to get their wounds licked by dogs. In a time when there were no antibiotics, it’s easy to see why people would be looking for something to help clean and heal wounds.
The Ancient Greeks continued this belief. It is even said that Julius Caesar had dogs in his armies that would lick soldiers’ wounds to speed healing. However, much of this is hearsay, likely garnered from ancient observations. Yet, like many myths, it is based in fact. Several experiments have been done on dog saliva, concluding that it does have some healing powers after all.
How Does Dog Saliva Heal?
Unlike a cat, a dog’s tongue is smooth, and although it cannot hook and groom like a cat’s, it is a great tool for cleaning. The licking of an open wound starts the healing process by removing dirt and debris. If these foreign objects remained in the wound, they would likely cause an infection. The process of licking also numbs the pain of the injury. Humans similarly hold an area that hurts to stave off pain. The dog uses this motion to help deal with the shock of the pain. Yet, this is just the beginning of the dog’s healing powers.
Histatins are antibacterial and antimicrobial proteins secreted by salivary glands that help to fight off bacteria at the site of the wound. These proteins have been found in dog’s saliva, but they only fight certain dog-specific bacteria, such as Streptococcus canis, which can cause severe infections.
Histatins also help to encourage wounds to close, which is important because once a wound closes, it can no longer get contaminated. In addition to histatins, dog saliva contains a nerve growth factor (NGF), which is a stimulant that has been found to encourage rapid healing.
Dog Saliva Also Benefits Their Oral Health
A dog’s saliva also helps a dog’s dental health. It coats their teeth, preventing cavities from forming, much like fluoride is used in humans. Bacteria produce acidic excretions, so the alkaline saliva counteracts their effects, making dogs far less likely to get cavities than humans. This is another miraculous way that a dog’s saliva heals and protects a dog.
Should I Let My Injured Dog Lick Itself?
It’s an instinct for your dog to lick a wound, and it may be helpful if the licking is immediate and brief. However, although their saliva has some beneficial qualities, there are some negative effects to consider. Since the action of licking numbs pain for dogs, it can become an obsessive behavior. Once a dog begins licking a wound incessantly, it can become irritated. Licking is also a gateway for your dog to begin chewing at the wound, which can result in a more serious injury.
If your dog has had surgery, they can loosen stitches. Although their tongues do contain antibacterial properties, their saliva is still unsanitary. It can contain harmful pathogens that can enter the wound. Your veterinarian may suggest having your dog wear an e-collar (or a “cone of shame”) to prevent them from contaminating an open cut.
Reconsider Letting a Dog Lick Your Open Wound
You may let your dog lick your wound with the idea that it’ll help clean it. This can be problematic. Dogs lick their anuses and scavenge in garbage, so their saliva isn’t particularly clean. Dogs can have parasites, such as roundworms, that can be transferred to you via their saliva. However, Nigel Benjamin, a clinical pharmacologist, claims that dog saliva is just as beneficial to humans as it is to dogs.
However, there is some science that suggests all animals possess some natural healing powers in their saliva, so you could also just try licking your own wound. Better yet, modern antibiotic creams and antiseptics are far more effective at cleaning a wound than any tongue would be.
Can Dog Saliva Help Other Animals Heal Faster?
Some of the similar ideas with humans are true of other animals. For example, if your dog is licking your cat’s wound, it may have some antibacterial properties that will be helpful. However, there are some risks of spreading parasites or pathogens, as well. Your dog is likely instinctively trying to care for the other animal. If your other pet has stitches or is not supposed to be licking that wound, it is equally important to keep your dog from licking it as well. You wouldn’t want your dog to accidentally remove stitches or irritate the injury.
In short, dogs’ saliva, as well as most animals’ spit, contains properties that aid in healing. It is a natural process, meant to help with injury in a time before modern medicine. However, nowadays, a good antibiotic cream does the trick better than a lick from your favorite pup. In fact, you risk more letting your dog lick you than you gain from the saliva.
