Allowing cuts and scrapes to heal?

[azhunter]

I hunt in the desert and everything has a thorn or a spike or some other means of cutting and scraping my dog. He does a good job - sometimes too good when he does it in the middle of the night - of licking these minor wounds and healing them up. My question is when should I not let him lick a wound? Now, I understand what needs to be done with a severe cut or gash, but when he gets something minor that doesn't require a trip to the vet, when is the time to keep medication on the wound and a muzzle on the dog?

[Sharon]

When you see infection ( very red/pus) it is time I think. A dog can lick out a muzzle end. An Elizabethan collar works better. jmo