I have not had much response to this question before and I have not found anything much off the search either. My question is simply if the saliva of Boxers acts as a healing balm. My husband seems to think so and has got him to lick our kids wounds...I have a hard time with this...U]any comments[/U] ???
slavia
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bustermom
Boxer Insane
I found sites which support both sides of the issue. Here's a link to one which supports it:
http://www.jackrussellcentral.com/main/news/pages/two.php
My logic on this one, however, is that a bottle of hydrogen peroxide would have the same effect (minus the tail wagging
). And if your dog is anything like Buster, I wouldn't want him mashing all the dirt and other unidentifiable crumbs that are always on his tongue into any open cuts. If I had to use dog saliva as a disinfectant, I'd get him to spit on a sterile cotton ball! :D
On the other side of the coin, I would be much more inclined to agree with THIS article, which states that "When they lick you - especially if you have an open cut - they can pass on germs carried in their saliva or parasite eggs they may have in their mouths." Again, I'd stick with hydrogen peroxide or a topical antibiotic (that comes in a tube, no tongue attached!) for treating wounds. Here's the link to this site:
http://www.todaysparent.com/health_safety/article.jsp?cId=3285
I love to kiss Buster and get kissed in return, but open cuts are a break in the body's largest defense system (the skin) and should be treated with a sterile medication and then protected with a bandage of some sort. Just my opinion...
http://www.jackrussellcentral.com/main/news/pages/two.php
My logic on this one, however, is that a bottle of hydrogen peroxide would have the same effect (minus the tail wagging
). And if your dog is anything like Buster, I wouldn't want him mashing all the dirt and other unidentifiable crumbs that are always on his tongue into any open cuts. If I had to use dog saliva as a disinfectant, I'd get him to spit on a sterile cotton ball! :DOn the other side of the coin, I would be much more inclined to agree with THIS article, which states that "When they lick you - especially if you have an open cut - they can pass on germs carried in their saliva or parasite eggs they may have in their mouths." Again, I'd stick with hydrogen peroxide or a topical antibiotic (that comes in a tube, no tongue attached!) for treating wounds. Here's the link to this site:
http://www.todaysparent.com/health_safety/article.jsp?cId=3285
I love to kiss Buster and get kissed in return, but open cuts are a break in the body's largest defense system (the skin) and should be treated with a sterile medication and then protected with a bandage of some sort. Just my opinion...
Thanks guys...I checked out the links...some good info...it is interesting though how dogs seem to be attracted to lick wounds. My friend has really bad dry skin rashes on her hands and whenever she comes to visit Spike runs to lick her hands...she loves it. I tend to agree that peroxcide is the best alternative.
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