Apply Pressure to the Bite Site
If the wound is actively bleeding, apply pressure with a clean cloth for several minutes to stop the blood flow. Ice wrapped in a cloth can be helpful if it’s available—the cold temperature causes the blood vessels to contract, lessening the amount of blood exiting the wound. Applying ice will also help combat inflammation and discomfort.
For small wounds, a bandage is usually unnecessary. Large wounds or ones that continue to bleed can benefit from a light bandage. Apply a sterile non-stick pad to the wound, and then wrap it with gauze and/or vet wrap to hold the pad in place. A small adhesive bandage like a Band-Aid may work for some very small nicks.
Unless the bite is truly just superficial (on the surface of the skin), your dog should be seen by your veterinarian after being bitten. Your dog’s veterinary team will be able to make sure the wound is totally clean, and your vet can prescribe antibiotics to prevent infection.
If you’re able to control the bleeding quickly at home and your dog seems otherwise okay, the appointment can be scheduled within regular business hours. Even if your vet doesn’t have any open appointment slots, they may be able to take your dog as a drop-off.
If the bleeding won’t stop, bone is exposed, an eye is involved, there is severe damage, or your dog is dazed or unconscious, he needs emergency care as soon as possible. If you are unsure about the urgency of your dog’s case, call and talk to the staff at the office so they can help talk you through it. Ask if you can text or email photos to help the staff determine whether your dog should be seen immediately or can wait for an appointment later in the day.
At the hospital, the staff will get to work stopping any bleeding and stabilizing your dog if he is in shock. He may be given fluids to help with hydration and blood pressure. Depending on the extent of the wound, he may be sedated or put under anesthesia so the vet can further clean the wound and suture it closed.
When possible, bite wounds are often left open to heal on their own. Bacteria love moist, enclosed spaces, making a closed wound the perfect stage for an infection. Wounds on the feet and lower legs, however, are frequently bandaged to protect them during the initial healing process. Large wounds may also be bandaged. Bandages must be kept clean and dry, and may need to be changed frequently.
For large bites, your vet may put in place a drain that allows fluid to exit your dog’s body instead of building up in a pocket. Drains are messy, but it’s worth the hassle for a few days to prevent a bacteria-filled pocket from turning into an abscess. In some cases, the vet may need to debride (remove) damaged tissue a few days after the initial bite.
Most dogs who have been bitten by another dog will be prescribed antibiotics to prevent infection. There is lots of bacteria in a dog’s mouth, and while most of these are harmless in their normal environment, a bite wound provides a great spot to start an infection.
Your veterinarian will likely start with a broad-spectrum antibiotic that’s effective against a wide range of pathogens. Follow the instructions on the label and give the entire course, even if your dog seems to be healing well. If your dog does develop an infection, or if he had been missing before you found him with the bite wound, your vet may send out a swab for a culture and sensitivity test to determine the best antibiotic to defeat your dog’s infection.
Hopefully, your dog’s rabies vaccination is already current (check those certificates!). If it’s overdue or is going to be due in the near future, your veterinarian will likely give him a booster shot to make sure he’s protected. This is especially important if you don’t know the vaccination status of the dog that bit your dog.
A tip: Whenever you are working with a dog that may be in pain, it’s wise to use a muzzle. Even the sweetest dog can bite if she is in pain. Muzzles are available at any pet supply store, and cloth or mesh muzzles are easy to store in a first aid kit. Practice putting the muzzle on your dog, using treats to reward her and make wearing it a positive experience. This will make it much easier to get the muzzle on in an emergency.
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Rabies virus can be excreted in the saliva of infected dogs, cats, and ferrets during illness and/or for a few days before illness or death. A healthy dog, cat, or ferret that bites a person should be confined and observed daily for 10 days. Confinement should be performed in coordination with public health authorities. To avoid mistaking the signs of rabies for possible side effects of vaccination, administration of rabies vaccine to the animal is not recommended during the observation period.
If the confined animal develops any signs of illness, it should be evaluated by a veterinarian. Any illness in the animal should be reported immediately to the local health department. If the animal develops signs suggestive of rabies, it should be euthanized by an animal health professional and the head submitted to a diagnostic laboratory for testing.
These bacteria and germs can cause bacterial infection if the dog bit breaks your skin. The risk of infection may be greater in people with weakened immune systems or people with diabetes or other health conditions. Thats why if you notice any sign of infection you should go for a doctor checkup because you need medical attention to ensure your wounds heal properly.
Apart from this Dr. Nishant Singh, general physician, Meddo Nidaan Clinic, tells Healthshots that the first thing to check affer a dog bites is the severity of the wound and if the dog was vaccinated. If the skin is not broken – wash the area with warm water and soap and you can apply a antiseptic solution to the area. If the skin is broken by not bleeding – clean the area using warm water, soap and a clean towel. Press the surrounding area to bleeding. This will help in removing the germs. Clean the blood and apply an antibacterial ointment. If the wound is bleeding – apply and press a clean cloth to the area to stop bleeding. Clean the area and apply a sterile bandage. It is important to seek immediate medical attention in case of a bleeding dog bite wound.
If youve been bitten by a dog, its important to treat the wound right away to reduce your risk of bacterial infection such as rabies, a life-threatening infection. In some instances, youll be able to administer first aid to yourself. In other cases, youll need immediate medical treatment. But remember, its very important to see a doctor if an unfamiliar dog, for example, a stray dog, bit you, the bite is deep, you cant stop the bleeding or there are any signs of infection (redness, swelling, warmth, pus). Dog bites can cause infections that need to be treated by the doctor.
A dog bite can be painful and dangerous. It is said that roughly 20,000 deaths in India occur due to rabies through dog bites. What is alarming is that about 36% of the worlds rabies deaths occur in our country each year, according to the WHO (World Health Organization), which clearly shows how important it is for us to be aware.
How to Survive a Dog Attack
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.