Dog Bite Infections: The Basics
An infection occurs in a dog bite when bacteria from the dog’s mouth or saliva enters a wound. Additionally, bacteria from the surrounding environment can also lead to infection.
Lacerations and puncture wounds are the most common type of dog bite injury to cause an infection. When the skin is broken, bacteria can get under the skin and cause damage. Dog bites that only scrape or scratch the skin — and do not break it — pose minimal risk for infection.
Wounds on the hands and toes carry the greatest risk for infection. Research has shown that keeping these areas clean and properly covered is the main reason.
Those with a weakened immune system — diabetes, kidney problems, etc. — are at a greater risk for infections after a dog bite.
There are many possible infections that come from dog bite wounds. Some of the most common concerns following a dog bite attack are:
Not all dog bites require a trip to the emergency room, but make sure to treat all dog bites with care. Properly cleansing the wound and keeping it clean will greatly reduce the risk of infection.
Knowing the warning signs for infection will help you as you go through the process. Signs of infection include:
Of course many of the above symptoms may be cause by something other than a dog bite. But by being cautious and having your wound checked by a doctor, you can avoid an infection spreading and becoming worse.
Save citation to file Format:
Name your collection: Name must be less than 100 characters Choose a collection: Unable to load your collection due to an error
Unable to load your delegates due to an error
When should you go to the doctor for a dog bite?
When to See a Doctor for a Dog Bite
Call 911 and seek emergency medical care if the victim is bleeding profusely from multiple wounds. Call a doctor if: Bleeding doesn’t stop after 15 minutes of pressure. The bite has broken the skin.
Blood clot removed due to a dog bite on my lower leg.
If a dog bite pierces a person’s skin, bacteria from the animal’s mouth can get into the body, which can cause an infection.
Washing the wound thoroughly can remove the bacteria from the body and help prevent infection. If the bacteria stay in the body, they can cause an infection, such as tetanus, rabies, or sepsis.
In some cases, an infection can spread to other parts of the body. People will need antibiotics or vaccinations to treat these types of infection.
To help prevent infection from a dog bite, people should wash the wound as soon as possible. People can treat minor wounds by:
People may be able to use at-home treatments to prevent a dog bite from becoming infected. Cleaning minor wounds immediately is often sufficient. However, people should see a doctor for more serious wounds.
A doctor may use a syringe to apply water and a cleaning solution to the wound. Doing this helps flush out bacteria from the wound. The doctor may then prescribe antibiotics to fight off any bacteria that have entered the body and prevent infection.
A doctor will also be able to examine the wound to look for any damage to structures in the body, such as nerves or bones.
If the person has not had a tetanus vaccine in the last 5 years, they may need to have one to reduce the risk of tetanus.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, people with a dirty wound should have a booster tetanus vaccine if more than 5 years have passed since their last shot. For a clean wound, people should have a booster vaccine if it has been more than 10 years since their last shot.
In cases of severe or facial wounds, people may need stitches to close the wound. If the person does not know the dog’s history of rabies vaccination, they will need a postexposure rabies vaccine to protect them from the possibility of rabies.
Bites on the hands or feet carry a higher risk of infection. Certain infections from dog bites can be very serious and lead to complications. Without treatment, these infections can be fatal.
If people have a Capnocytophaga infection from a dog bite, they may have the following symptoms:
Symptoms can appear between 1 and 14 days after a dog bite. The following factors can increase a person’s risk of infection:
Untreated animal bites can sometimes lead to sepsis. Sepsis is a severe reaction to infection, and it can be life threatening. Signs of sepsis include:
If a person suspects that they have sepsis, they should seek immediate medical attention. A doctor will treat sepsis with antibiotics and intravenous fluids.
People can get rabies if a dog that has rabies bites them. The first symptoms of rabies are:
Rabies is fatal if a person does not receive treatment. People should see their doctor straight away if they think that the dog that bit them might have rabies. Postexposure rabies vaccination can treat the infection.
Tetanus is a serious infection. People with any symptoms of tetanus need immediate medical attention. They will require medications, such as antibiotics, as well as a tetanus vaccine.
If a person thinks that a dog bite has resulted in damage to the nerves or bones, they should seek emergency treatment. Emergency treatment is also necessary if an infection has spread to other parts of the body.
People should also seek medical attention if the dog that bit them was acting strangely, or they are unsure whether the dog has received a vaccine against rabies.
People may be able to avoid getting an infection from a dog bite if they wash the wound straight away. They can hold the wound under running water or use soap and water to wash it thoroughly before covering the wound with a bandage to keep it clean.
For deeper wounds, the person should see a doctor, who will wash out the wound with a saline solution and apply a dressing.
People should see their doctor straight away if they have any symptoms of infection around the wound, such as:
If the person is at risk of developing an infection from a dog bite, a doctor may prescribe antibiotics to fight the infection. In some cases, people may need a tetanus or rabies vaccine to prevent these types of infection.