Can Your Dog Be Killed for Biting Someone?
Your terrier mix Sheba is having a very bad day. She just bit the boy who was all up in her face. His fingers bleeding, he’s shrieking in pain and fear in his mom’s arms. It dawns on you that Sheba is out of date on her rabies vaccination by about two years.
Suddenly, all the justification of why she bit this obnoxious kid fades. The cold realization slaps you wide awake to a much scarier scenario: animal control will be involved as well as this boy’s doctor. The question on everyone’s lips will be, “Is she up to date on her rabies shots?”
You swallow hard, and the boy’s screams recede as your ultimate fear begins wailing like a siren:
“Oh God Oh God Oh God!
Where are those rabies papers? What are my chances of pulling this mess out of the fire? Was I a complete fool for following those voices that said she’d be immune for life from her early rabies shot? Who was that again? Dr. Falconer, and who else?
Immunologists, is that who he said? Wasn’t Dogs Naturally Magazine saying “Once and done” is the healthiest way to go for vaccinations? Was that for rabies, too, or just the other vaccinations? Think, damn it, think!”
Long before panic like this sets in, it’s a good idea to have your rabies ducks in a row. Understanding what you’re up against goes a long way towards helping you think clearly. At the time of a dog bite, it’ll be much harder if you’re unprepared.
7 steps to treating a dog bite
If a dogbites you, take these steps right away:
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.
The vaccine is given as a series of four injections, over the course of several weeks. An additional injection of rabies immune globulin is also required as part of the treatment.
If the bite is already bleeding, apply a clean cloth to the wound and gently press down to stop the flow. Follow up with an application of antibacterial lotion and cover with a sterile bandage.
It’s very important to wash the wound as soon as you’re bitten and to use topical antibiotics, such as povidone iodine, in and around broken skin.
Inoculating your own dog for rabies and staying away from unknown dogs is your best defense against dog bites and their complications. Never approach a dog you don’t know, no matter how adorable they may look.
If a dog bite tears the skin, it can cause scarring to occur. In many instances, the appearance of mild scarring will lessen over time.
What Happens if my Dog Bites Someone? A Legal Perspective
If you’ve been bitten by a dog, it’s important to tend to the injury right away to reduce your risk of bacterial infection. You also should assess the wound to determine the severity.
In some instances, you’ll be able to administer first aid to yourself. In other cases, you’ll need immediate medical treatment.
Whether the dog is yours or someone else’s, you may feel shaken after being bitten. If you need medical attention, call for help rather than driving yourself to the doctor or hospital.
Read on to learn the steps you should take following a dog bite, and what you can do to prevent infection.
The first thing you should do following a dog bite is to put distance between yourself and the dog. That can eliminate the chances that you may be bitten again.
Once there’s no longer an immediate threat, it’s important to determine if the dog has been inoculated against rabies.
If the dog’s owner is nearby, ask for the dog’s vaccination history, making sure to get the owner’s name, telephone number, and veterinarian’s contact information. If possible, also ask to see some sort of ID.
If the dog is unaccompanied, ask anyone who witnessed the attack if they’re familiar with the dog and know where the owner lives.
Of course, it’s also possible to be bitten by your own dog. For this reason, make sure to keep up with your dog’s rabies inoculations. Even a friendly, gentle animal may sometimes bite.
The type of first aid you administer will be determined by the severity of the bite.
If your skin wasn’t broken, wash the area with warm water and soap. You can also apply an antibacterial lotion to the area as a precaution.
If your skin was broken, wash the area with warm soap and water and gently press on the wound to promote a small amount of bleeding. This will help flush out germs.
If the bite is already bleeding, apply a clean cloth to the wound and gently press down to stop the flow. Follow up with an application of antibacterial lotion and cover with a sterile bandage.
All dog bite wounds, even minor ones, should be monitored for signs of infection until they’re completely healed.
If the wound gets worse, you feel pain, or develop a fever, see a doctor immediately.
Dog bites can cause several complications. These include infections, rabies, nerve or muscle damage, and more.
Dogs may also carry MRSA, but there have been no current reports of it being transmitted via dog bite.
The risk of infection may be greater in people with weakened immune systems or people with diabetes. If you’ve been bitten by a dog and notice signs of infection, see a doctor.
A deep bite can cause damage to nerves, muscles, and blood vessels under the skin. This can occur even if the wound appears to be small, like from puncture marks.
A bite from a large dog may result in broken, splintered, or fractured bones, especially in the legs, feet, or hands.
Rabies is a serious viral condition that affects the central nervous system. Left untreated, it can lead to death within a few days of infection.
Seek immediate medical attention if you’ve been bitten by a dog and you aren’t sure of their vaccination history or know that they’re not up-to-date on their rabies vaccinations.
Tetanus is a bacterial disease. It’s uncommon in the United States where vaccines are routinely provided to children. Adults should get a tetanus booster shot every 10 years.
If a dog bite tears the skin, it can cause scarring to occur. In many instances, the appearance of mild scarring will lessen over time.
Severe scarring, or scars which occur in visible areas such as the face, can be reduced through medical techniques such as grafting or plastic surgery.
The number of deaths due to dog bites in the United States annually is very low. When they occur, about 70 percent of deaths related to dog bites happen to children younger than 10 years old.
If you’re bitten by a dog that shows signs of rabies, such as acting erratically or foaming at the mouth, you should get a rabies vaccine.
Rabies is a potentially fatal condition, which is 100 percent preventable when immediate medical treatment is received.
Rabies in humans is rare in the United States and not typically transmitted by dogs, thanks to widespread inoculation and prevention programs. If you or your doctor have any concerns that you might have contracted rabies through a dog bite, getting a rabies post-exposure vaccine makes sense.
The vaccine is given as a series of four injections, over the course of several weeks. An additional injection of rabies immune globulin is also required as part of the treatment.
Dog bites can introduce dangerous bacteria into the body. This can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections to occur when left untreated.
It’s very important to wash the wound as soon as you’re bitten and to use topical antibiotics, such as povidone iodine, in and around broken skin.
Keep an eye on the wound for signs of infection. Depending on the type of infection, symptoms can start appearing within 24 hours up to 14 days after being bitten.
Infections can spread quickly throughout the body. If you notice signs of infection, see your doctor right away. You may need oral or intravenous antibiotics.
If your doctor prescribes antibiotics for you, you’ll probably take them for 1 to 2 weeks. Do not stop taking your medication even if the infection appears to subside completely.
Bacterial infections are a common complication from dog bites and it’s important to get any sign of infection looked at promptly.
Inoculating your own dog for rabies and staying away from unknown dogs is your best defense against dog bites and their complications. Never approach a dog you don’t know, no matter how adorable they may look.
Also avoid roughhousing or playing aggressively with dogs, including those you know. It also makes sense to “let sleeping dogs lie,” and to never disturb a dog that’s eating or caring for puppies.