杏吧原创

I know that some animals treat simple injuries by licking them. Are there any animals that, like humans, treat each other鈥檚 injuries, and do any animals have more sophisticated forms of 鈥渕edical treatment鈥�?

(Continued)

鈥� I am a veterinary surgeon and I go to great lengths to prevent wound contamination after surgery. This is the reason that wounds are dressed and Elizabethan collars placed on cats and dogs after routine surgery such as desexing. Licking wounds is the most common cause of wound contamination post-surgery we see, causing a rapid breakdown of the wound site and delayed healing.

Any bite by a dog or a cat is considered serious and if left untreated can result in hospitalisation and permanent injury. This is because cat and dog saliva contains numerous pathogenic bacteria such as Pasteurella multocida, Staphylococcus aureus, and various species of Pseudomonas and Streptococcus.

I am sure some animals have no adverse effect after the licking of wounds, but I still frequently see animals that have a severe reaction, requiring further surgery and antibiotic intervention, all due to the animal 鈥渃leaning鈥� the wound.

Donald Hudson, By email, no address supplied