Why do animals often lick wounds?

When injured, animals such as dogs or cats will lick the wound until it heals. Animal saliva does contain antiseptic compounds that can kill bacteria. If so, what about human saliva? Compared to wounds on the skin or bones, sores inside the mouth tend to heal faster. However, does this mean that human saliva can also heal wounds?

Animal saliva contains epidermal growth factor (EGF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) which play an important role in wound healing.

This active component is not present in human saliva or saliva. However, human saliva contains histatins which are antimicrobial so they can prevent infection. Histatin in saliva is a peptide, which is a protein-forming substance that is only produced by the salivary glands of humans and primates.

This substance has the ability to counteract the activity of microorganisms that cause infection such as the fungus Candida albicans. In addition to histatins, there are other types of peptides found in human saliva that are also antimicrobial, namely defensins, cathelicidins, and statrins. This type of peptide in saliva plays an important role in healing wounds around the mouth.

Histatin in saliva can trigger the process of angiogenesis or blood vessel formation. Histatin also helps the formation of new blood vessel network in damaged tissue.

Although several studies have shown the potential of saliva's active ingredients in wound healing, experts do not recommend applying saliva directly to wounds. According to experts, human saliva also contains many bacteria that can trigger infection in wounds, especially in open wounds that are deep enough.

Bacteria in saliva may be harmless when in the mouth. However, when on the skin, bacteria can directly infect.

Well, infection in this wound actually slows wound healing, even at high risk of causing tissue damage.

Well, infection in this wound actually slows wound healing, even at high risk of causing tissue damage. When injured, the right first aid step is to clean the wound using running water and soap. But first, make sure the external bleeding has stopped when you want to clean the wound.

It is important to know that the animal's habit of licking the wound is not always good for wound healing. The reason is exactly the same as for humans that there is a risk of infection from the bacterial content present in animal saliva.

Therefore, avoid cleaning the wound with saliva. If you have trouble stopping the bleeding and the wound is already contaminated with hard-to-clean feces, seek medical attention immediately.