Treatment for a Dog Bite – Dogs are known to have round teeth and this is what helps to cause the pressure of their jaws that cause possible significant damage to the tissues that are the skin. They also include bones, nerves, muscles, and bones. A dog bite may sound like a light problem, but it still needs special attention to it, as it can result in serious ailments. It is your best interest, therefore, to seek medical attention and also to report the attack, even when dog bites are not often fatal. Dog bites can easily cause a number of injuries, ranging from scratches, puncture wounds, deep open cuts, tearing a part of the body or crush injuries. Dog bites often do not cause death but can lead to permanent disability. German Shepherds, Pit Bull Terrier, and mixed breeds are the most common dog breeds that have been most commonly associated with bites and have often noticed most of the dog bite injuries.
Observing the case of a dog bite, the case may imply the following;
- Of all the animal occurrences bites there, most of them are caused by dogs. This is partly because dogs are the most common human pets they assume. Many people who are bitten by dogs often require reconstructive surgery.
- A dog bite can cause injuries that go under the skin, including blood vessels, bones, nerves, muscles.
- Keep in mind that you can detect infections such as tetanus and rabies from a dog bite.
- You need to clean the wound immediately to reduce the risk of infection.
- You’ll increase the risk of infection when you try to repair the skin, you will balance the risk of infection if you saturate the skin in the relationship to leave the scar to appear clearly.
Who is more likely to be at risk for a dog bite?
Often our children arising for medical attention and these often are in the age range from 5 to 9 years compared to other age groups. They are also particularly common among these young people. Men were also often victims of dog bites, compared to women (who are often bitten by cats). If your child gets a dog bite, please seek medical attention immediately, especially for multiple or even severe bites. If the bites are in small children, they can even involve the head and neck. For older children and adults, you will often see the right hand as the most commonly injured site.
Related: How Many Teeth does an Adult Dog
What are the first aid for dog bites?
Just as for any other type of wounds, for a dog bite, first aid, exert pressure on the wound to stop bleeding and then clean the area very extensively. There are certainly great possibilities of becoming infected with dog bites. It is, therefore, a good precaution for children to take a 3 to 7-day antibiotic to avoid any type of development infection. Therefore, remember that because of this risk of infection, most dog bites are not sewn closed. However, these bites on the face can be sewn as they are easily seen by the doctor, therefore often referred to as clean. If your child has less than 3 doses, a tetanus shot is a good preventative measure that you may need. If the bite was not considered clean by the doctor, then you still need the tetanus shot, especially when the dose was last taken more than 5 years, even if you had 3 or more tetanus shots. For light and clean bites, your child may need a tetanus Booster if his last one was taken ten years ago.
In the case of rabies, you will have to be treated with a rabies vaccine within 48 hours of being bitten if the dog you bit was not vaccinated or not found and especially in case the dog was provoked.
What is the treatment for a dog bite? Do I need treatment for a dog bite?
Children or even adults who have been bitten by a dog should find the help of a medical care provider immediately. This should be done quickly, especially if;
- The dog that bit the skin and bleeds does not cease after 15 minutes of applying pressure.
- The dog bite victim has liver disease, cancer, HIV infection, diabetes, or even when they are in medicine that weakens the immune system.
- There’s a severe injury or a broken bone.
- Treatment for a dog bite
After the assessment has been made and the need for treatment has been established, it is better to start in treatment within the first 8 hours of the incidence of a dog bite. If you are indicated to start treatment, you will greatly decrease the risk of developing an infection within 8 hours.
If the above does not apply to you, you should carefully look at the wound for all signs of infections. These could be heat, redness, fever, a pus-like discharge or even an aggravating pain.
Be careful with any swelling, pain, and common movement if the bite is near a junction. Even when your wound seems to worsen rather than improve, they still seek medical attention.
Consider the following after a dog bite;
- Antibiotics. This will help reduce any chance of infection of any kind, especially among high-risk people with other health complications such as facial wounds or even those in the joints or bones.
- Tetanus immunization is good for preventing potentially fatal infections.
- Vaccination against rabies will also be necessary if the dog that bit the victim was infected with rabies after medical care determined that the series of injections is necessary to prevent rabies.
- Some wounds can be sutured after a few long hours of a dog bite. However, they can also be left open for drainage, covered with a bandage, and also a daily analysis of any sign of infection.
How can I handle an infected dog bite wound?
Those who do not seek immediate medical attention may develop an infection in the wound and in the event of such illness; One requires surgical treatment and antibiotics. In cases where you can not take care of the wound at home, or are worried about an infection that worsens, then hospitalization is the recommendation, otherwise, the wound can be treated at home.
Even in cases of non-obvious signs known as redness, seek medical attention quickly if they are at risk of infection of wounds.