If you have a fresh cut or even a fresh tattoo, your dog may be trying to heal you. While they don't have this knowledge consciously, their saliva contains a lot of bacteria fighting enzymes that can aid in healing even somewhat severe wounds. Take care to avoid letting this particular type of licking become excessive.
***IMPORTANT NOTE: If you have pets, take extra precaution not to let them lick or rub against your new tattoo, as it's technically an open wound.
#4 Avoid sleeping with your pets.
We all love a good cuddle with our fur children, but they can be harmful to a healing tattoo. As much as we love and care for them, pets harbor bacteria that can cause infection in an open wound.
Dogs can smell things called volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are often given off by people who have cancer. They can detect high blood sugar, unusual compounds in the skin (such as with tattoos), and bacteria in the blood that could cause infection.
Once it starts to heal, you can just put a bandage or more plastic on it when you are around your dog. Is it on your arm? If so, go to a pharmacy and buy a shower sleeve. They are made for arm casts so people with fractures can safely shower, but it will work fine to protect your tattoo from your dog's saliva and hair.
If you have a fresh cut or even a fresh tattoo, your dog may be trying to heal you. While they don't have this knowledge consciously, their saliva contains a lot of bacteria fighting enzymes that can aid in healing even somewhat severe wounds. Take care to avoid letting this particular type of licking become excessive.
Avoid pet hair. We all love a good cuddle with our furry friends, but pet hair is the #1 way people get their tattoos infected. If you sleep with an animal or can't avoid pet hair we recommend wrapping your tattoo.
The Wet Healing Process
During this time, your tattoo starts to weep fluids—which is a normal part of the healing process. This weeping is full of plasma, blood and lymph fluid. As the cells within these fluids begin to die and decay, they generally start to emit foul odors.
You'll want to keep the tattoo wrapped for at least the first night because it will take a while for it to settle down and stop leaking. You don't want an open wound like that touching your bed sheets, getting blood everywhere, or dirt and dust getting into the wound itself.
Dogs are not immune to infections due to the slight antibacterial properties of their saliva. Allowing them to lick your wound doesn't make it heal any faster, and it is not a terribly effective way to prevent infections either.
Don't worry, this is completely natural. It happens because the old skin, damaged during the tattooing process, forms a thin layer over your tattoo and masks its true appearance. In time this old skin will naturally exfoliate itself, revealing your tattoo underneath in all its vibrant glory.
Days 2 to 3
Over the next couple of days, you may notice that your tattoo looks dull and cloudy. No need to panic or start thinking about a touch-up. This happens as your skin heals and new skin starts to form. Excess ink and plasma may still ooze from your skin during this time.
During these first few days, it is normal for your tattoo to feel sore and tender. You may also see redness, swelling, and some mild bleeding. DAYS 3-14 (or until healed): After the first 2-3 days, your tattoo should begin to feel dry and tight.
HP cartridges and inks generally have a low level of oral toxicity. Ingestion of cartridge components and small amounts of inks should not result in significant health effects for your pet. Some staining and irritation of the mouth and throat tissues may be observed, but these effects should diminish over time.
A 2016 study that looked at the risk of infection with tattoos found that 0.5–6% of adults who had a tattoo experienced infectious complications. If a tattoo causes severe symptoms or pain that lasts for more than a few days, it can be a sign that there is an infection that needs medical attention.
Avoid sleeping directly on your new tattoo, at least the first 4 days. The goal is to try your best not to put any pressure on your tattoo and to keep it from touching anything, at least as much as possible. A healing tattoo needs lots of fresh air and oxygen, so try not to smother it while sleeping.
A lot of tattoo artists recommend sleeping with the wrap that was put on. Others recommend re-wrapping, or just applying healing ointment and keeping the tattoo clean. The important thing is avoiding infection.
Apply a layer of antibacterial/Vaseline ointment twice a day, but don't put on another bandage. Gently wash your tattoo area twice a day with soap and water and gently pat dry before reapplying the antibacterial/Vaseline ointment. Keep applying a moisturizer or ointment after you clean it to keep it moist.