Why Your Dog Licks Your Wounds & What Happens If They Swallow Blood

Unraveling the mystery as to why your pup wants to lick your wounds (and whether or not you should let them)

Co-authored by Hannah Madden

Last Updated: February 8, 2023 References

What could happen if my dog licks human blood?

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Why do dogs lick human blood?

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How to Prevent Your Dog from Licking Your Wounds

Have you ever gotten a cut or a scrape, only to have your dog seem overly invested in that little bit of blood? Dogs will not only lick their own wounds, but they’ll also try to lick wounds of their human companions—but why is that? And will human blood make them sick? In this article, we’ll explain exactly why your pup wants to lap up that little bit of blood and what might happen if you let them. For scientific and evolutionary explanations, keep reading.

Things You Should Know

If a dog licks human blood, there’s a chance that they could get sick or get an upset stomach.
There’s also a chance that they could pass disease or bacteria to you, making you ill.
Dogs lick your wounds because they want to help you heal and they care about you.
Stop your dog from licking your wounds by covering your cuts and scrapes with bandages.

Section 1 of 3:

What could happen if my dog licks human blood?

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Your blood could make them sick. While there aren’t a lot of diseases or viruses that pass between humans and animals, there are a handful that can make your dog seriously ill. These are called zoonotic diseases, and they include the flu, tuberculosis, and pneumonia.^{[1]
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Trustworthy Source
PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
Go to source} It’s a small risk, but it could cause your dog harm if it ever happens.
- Plus, if your dog drinks too much of your blood (we’re talking cupfuls of it here), then they might experience vomiting, nausea, or diarrhea. A dog’s stomach isn’t made to digest blood, so it can make them feel sick.
2
Your dog could make you sick. If your dog has any sort of virus, it can be passed to you via their saliva.^{[2]
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Trustworthy Source
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services
Go to source} One of the major viruses to be concerned about is rabies, which is a potentially deadly disease that is passed via open wounds. Other things that your dog could pass onto you include:
- Salmonella, a bacteria that causes nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
- Giardia, a parasite that is ingested via dirty water.
- Campylobacter, a bacteria that causes severe vomiting and diarrhea.
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The bacteria from your dog’s mouth could give you an infection. Have you ever heard that a dog’s mouth is cleaner than ours is? Unfortunately, that rumor isn’t 100% true. When a dog licks an open wound of yours, they’re introducing bacteria that can cause infection, some of them so severe that they could lead to amputations.^{[3]
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Research source}
- Plus, the constant licking can agitate the wound, slowing down healing time.

Section 2 of 3:

Why do dogs lick human blood?

Your dog will lick your wounds because they’re trying to heal you. When your dog gets a cut or a scratch, they’ll instinctively lick at it to clean off the blood. Some components of canine saliva can actually help heal wounds, which is why dogs will often lick their own wounds so incessantly. Since your dog views you as part of their pack, they want to take care of you and help you heal fast.^{[4]
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Research source}
- Dogs are intelligent animals, and they can tell when you’re hurting (especially if they see blood).
- While it’s true that a dog’s saliva can help heal their own wounds, a dog’s saliva is not beneficial to wounds on a human. The healing properties that may help your wound are negated by the potential bacteria and illnesses you could contract from a dog’s mouth.
- There’s also an old belief that a dog will “get a taste” for human blood after licking a wound, meaning they’ll try to bite humans afterward. This isn’t true—there are no studies showing that dogs are more aggressive after licking human blood.

Section 3 of 3:

How to Prevent Your Dog from Licking Your Wounds

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Cover your wound with a bandage or gauze. Clean your wound with a disinfectant to avoid infection, then cover it up. Keeping a wound covered will not only put a barrier between it and your dog, but it will also speed up the healing process, too.^{[5]
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Trustworthy Source
National Health Service (UK)
Public healthcare system of the UK
Go to source}
- Always seek medical care for severe wounds that may need stitches.
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Keep your wound out of your dog’s reach. The best way to prevent your dog from licking your wounds is to not give them access to the wounds in the first place. If your dog comes near you, cover your wound with clothing or get up and walk away. Eventually, they’ll lose interest and will likely leave you (and your wound) alone.
- If your dog really won’t leave it, distract them with a treat or a fun toy instead.