What to do if your dog bites you and doesn’t break the skin? What to Know

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7 steps to treating a dog bite

If a dogbites you, take these steps right away:

  • Wash the wound. Use mild soap, and run warm tap water over it for five to 10 minutes.
  • Slow the bleeding with a clean cloth.
  • Apply over-the counter antibiotic cream if you have it.
  • Wrap the wound in a sterile bandage.
  • Keep the wound bandaged and see your doctor.
  • Change the bandage several times a day once your doctor has examined the wound.
  • Watch for signs of infection, including redness, swelling, increased pain and fever.

    • Your doctor will want to know more about the dog that bit you and how it happened. They will also likely clean the wound again, apply antibiotic ointment and prescribe antibiotics, such as Augmentin, if there’s an infection concern.

    After any bite, you should make sure you know when your last tetanus shot was — and that you’re up-to-date. While a tetanus immunization is good for 10 years, Dr. Sayles notes, your doctor may recommend a booster if the wound is dirty and it’s been more than five years since your last shot.

    Depending onthe wound, your doctor may also recommend stitches. Generally, though, dogwounds are left open to heal unless they are on the face or if they could leaveparticularly severe scars if left unsutured.

    What to do if you’ve been bitten

    If youve been bitten by an animal or another person:

  • clean the wound immediately by running warm tap water over it for a couple of minutes – its a good idea to do this even if the skin doesnt appear to be broken
  • remove any objects from the bite, such as teeth, hair or dirt
  • encourage the wound to bleed slightly by gently squeezing it, unless its already bleeding freely
  • if the wound is bleeding heavily, put a clean pad or sterile dressing over it and apply pressure
  • dry the wound and cover it with a clean dressing or plaster
  • take painkillers if youre in pain, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen – children under 16 years old shouldnt take aspirin
  • seek medical advice, unless the wound is very minor

    • If the bite has severed a body part like a finger or ear, wash it with tap water, wrap it in clean tissue, and store it in a plastic bag surrounded by ice so it can be transported to hospital. It may be possible to surgically reattach the body part later on.

    If the bite has broken the skin, you should seek immediate medical attention after cleaning the wound. Dont delay seeking help until symptoms of infection appear.

    Minor bites can be treated at your GP surgery, or by staff at your local walk-in centre or minor injuries unit. For particularly severe bites, visit your local accident and emergency (A&E) department.

    The healthcare professional treating you may:

  • clean the wound and remove any damaged tissue
  • prescribe a course of antibiotics to prevent infection
  • recommend specific treatment to prevent infections such as tetanus if youre felt to be at risk
  • close the wound with stitches if the risk of infection is thought to be low – high-risk wounds will usually be left open as this means theyre easier to keep clean
  • arrange blood tests to check for infection, or an X-ray to check for any damage to your bones and see if theres anything embedded in your wound, such as a tooth
  • refer you for an assessment by a specialist if the bite penetrated a joint, or theres severe damage, such as damage to bones or nerves – surgery may be needed in these cases
  • if youre bitten by a person with hepatitis or HIV, theres a tiny chance of the infection spreading if the bite is contaminated with blood, so you may be offered treatment to stop you becoming infected

    • When you return home, watch out for signs of a possible infection.

    Why Do Dogs Bite? Seeking Answers in the Aftermath

    Once the immediate chaos of the bite has passed, it’s time to start figuring out why your dog bit you and what you should do about it.

    Dog BITES Its Owner! How I Fix It Quickly!

    Dogs are a man’s best friend, but sometimes even man’s best friend can be cranky. If your dog bites you, which can happen to anyone, what should your next steps be?

    Our AFC Urgent Care Ooltewah team answers that question and provides further helpful information below, so keep reading!

    While some bites don’t absolutely require medical attention to properly heal, most experts still recommend seeking medical care 24 hours after you’ve been bitten—especially if the bite has broken the skin. Dog bites can cause medical problems that aren’t immediately obvious, such as bacterial infection.

    Dog bites are classified by severity, and it’s absolutely necessary to seek medical care if your bite is at level four or above. If this is the case for your bite wound, you might need stitches for the wound to properly heal.

    The first thing you should do once you’ve been bitten is to care for the wound the best you can at home.

    You can care for your wound by first stopping the bleeding by applying pressure with a clean cloth until the bleeding stops. Then, wash the affected area with soap and water and rinse thoroughly. This will decrease the odds of a dog bite infection. Lastly, put a dry, clean bandage over the wound.