You should seek the advice of your veterinarian if your pet is ill as only he or she can correctly advise on the diagnosis and recommend the treatment that is most appropriate for your pet.

Saliva is a complex solution which contains some substances that are potentially beneficial in cleaning wounds

Saliva is an extremely complex solution that contains :

• Water
• Antimicrobial agents - lysozyme
• Electrolytes and inorganic substances - sodium, potassium, chloride, bicarbonate, calcium, magnesium and phosphate
• Enzymes - amylase, lactoperoxidase, ribonuclease
• Glycoproteins - kallikrein (has a role in blood clotting)
• Growth factors - lactoferrin, nerve growth factor, epidermal growth factor

Immediately following wounding there is little doubt that the physical action of licking and the contents of saliva would be beneficial to :

• Physically remove large accumulations of dirt and debris
• Clean exposed tissue
• Digest surface debris - enzymes
• Keep the wound surface moist
• Promote blood clotting 
• Provide some local defence against infection (eg lysozymes)
• Encourage local tissue growth (healing)  

However, licking could be a problem if  :

• The action of licking keeps re-opening blood vessels resulting in prolonged bleeding
• The licking is prolonged and removes early healing tissue as it forms on the surface of the wound. This would delay healing
• There is excessive licking which could damage exposed fragile tissues and be detrimental
• The wound has been caused by a chemical burn - because by licking the wound the dog might swallow the chemical resulting in serious internal damage

So, the answer to the question is YES as a general rule dogs can be allowed to lick their wounds providing:

• There is little or no bleeding from the wound
• The licking is not prolonged
• The licking is not too vigorous so that it might damage exposed tissues
• The wound hasn't been caused by a chemical burn

In all cases veterinary attention should be sought as soon as possible so that the wound can be treated with appropriate antiseptics, antibiotics and dressings. Fresh open wounds often heal best (quicker and with less scarring) if the wound edges are stitched back together - so sometimes surgery is needed.

If a dog  persistently licks or bites at a wound the wound may need to be protected by using an "Elizabethan collar" or other methods such as protective dressings or by giving the dog  tranquillizers.

Updated October 2013