You seem to be experiencing cases of "intended gameplay!"
That being said, if you find a yellow medkit before being caught by another wolf, and once rubbing progresses far enough, you will be able to use it, and it will prevent instinctive rubbing from triggering. Player induced rubbing will also not lead to consequences.
In the next update I am reworking these medkits so they can be used at any point rather than working only once you get to the horny stage of a creature.