Steps to Take When Bitten by a Dog
Treating a Dog Bite
Immediate treatment reduces your risk of infection, says Cleveland Clinic. Whether you are bitten by your dog or someone's dog, you must treat the wound without delay.
To treat a dog bite, the clinic suggests:
1. Press on the wound gently to flush out bacteria.
2. Wash the wound with soap and water.
3. Slow bleeding with a clean cloth.
4. Apply an over-the-counter antibiotic cream.
5. Wrap the wound in a sterile bandage, and change it at least daily.
6. Watch for signs of infection.
7. See a doctor.
Aside from stopping or slowing the bleeding, one of the main concerns for humans is to reduce the risk of infection.
As long as bleeding from the wound is not too severe, washing out the wound really well is the best way to do this.
Studies suggest that when wounds are properly irrigated, which means flushed with 250ml of saline solution or more, infection rates are at around 12%, compared with a 69% infection rate for wounds that were not irrigated.
Understandably, if you are dealing with a puncture wound, irrigation is difficult.
It is not advised to put alcohol, iodine or antiseptics on the wound.
Other than stopping the bleeding, washing the wound, and gathering information about the biting dog, your priority should be to get to the doctor as soon as possible.
What Infections You Can Get from a Dog Bite?
Some common infections that you can contract from a dog bites are pasteurella multocida, staphylococci or anaerobes.
Less commonly, you could contract tetanus or rabies.
These diseases are life threatening if contracted, so they need to be taken seriously.
In the case of rabies and tetanus, you can be vaccinated against these diseases ahead of time.
This might be a good idea if you work with animals or live in an area where dogs are not required to be vaccinated against rabies.
Summary:
Experiencing or witnessing a dog bite is a frightening experience, just like any emergency situation.
However, you don’t need to be a trained professional to administer some basic first aid, gather relevant information and get the patient (whether human or canine) to the doctor as soon as possible.
Even for minor bites, a trip to the doctor is a good idea to make sure all shots are up to date, and that there have been no hidden injuries.
The good news is that fatal dog bites are rare, and with the correct treatment, victims usually recover.
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