How do I know if my dog bite needs stitches? A Comprehensive Guide

Treatment by a health professional is more likely to be needed for:

Bites that are more than 6.5 mm (0.25 in.) deep, that have jagged edges, or that gape open.

Deep bites that go down to the fat, muscle, bone, or other deep structures.

Deep bites over a joint, especially if the bite opens when the joint is moved or if pulling apart the edges of the bite reveals fat, muscle, bone, or joint structures.

Deep bites on the hand or fingers.

Bites on the face, lips, or any area where scarring may be a concern (for cosmetic reasons). Bites on the eyelids often need sutures for both functional and cosmetic reasons.

Bites longer than 20 mm (0.75 in.) that are deeper than 6.5 mm (0.25 in.) when the edges are pulled apart.

Bites that continue to bleed after 15 minutes of direct pressure.

Bites such as these should be evaluated by a health professional, but they may not always need stitching.

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.

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?

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.

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

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

For deeper wounds, you may need stitches. The provider may give you a tetanus shot if you have not had one in the last 5 years. You may also need to take antibiotics. If there is an infection that has spread, you may receive antibiotics through a vein (IV). For a bad bite, you may need surgery to repair the damage.

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Doctor explains how to assess and treat dog bites

You’re playingwith your dog, and somehow, between growls and tail wags, it can happen. Thosecanine teeth can bite or scratch. Or alternatively, you could be walking down astreet and an unknown mutt can attack without warning.

Either way,there are steps you need to take right away to treat the wound and reduce therisk of infection. You’ll need professional medical attention the same day.

A dog’s frontteeth will grab and compress your tissue, and their smaller teeth can also tearyour skin. The result is an open, jagged wound. If the wound becomes infected,it is often severe, says emergency medicine physician Stephen Sayles III, MD.

“The No. 1concern with these bites is infection,” he says. “You mayneed hospitalization and require intravenous antibiotics. You shouldalways see a primary care provider if you’re bitten.”

No matter what, make sure you see a doctor within eight hours of a dog bite, he says. Waiting longer raises your infection risk. If you have diabetes or are immunocompromised, your infection risk is even greater.