Why Do Dogs Lick Blood. Wound licking is an instinctive response in humans and many other animals to lick an injury. So yes, most dogs do instinctively try to clean a fresh wound by licking it.

Predator prevention is another reason why dogs lick their blood. Saliva contains tissue factor which promotes the blood. The reason you should keep an eye on the dog being licked is because sometimes dogs will lick obsessively at a wound, whether on themselves or a loved one.