When a dog bites someone, bacteria from the animal’s mouth can enter the body and lead to an infection.
Infection can be avoided by thoroughly washing the wound and removing any bacteria from the body. If the bacteria are allowed to remain inside the body, they may result in an infection like tetanus, rabies, or sepsis.
An infection can occasionally spread to different body parts. Antibiotics or vaccinations will be required for people to treat these infections.
People who have been bitten by a dog ought to wash the wound as soon as they can to help prevent infection. People can treat minor wounds by:
People may be able to use at-home remedies to stop an infection from a dog bite. Cleaning minor wounds immediately is often sufficient. However, people should see a doctor for more serious wounds.
A doctor might inject water and a cleaning agent into the wound using a syringe. Doing this helps flush out bacteria from the wound. In order to combat any bacteria that have entered the body and prevent infection, the doctor may then prescribe antibiotics.
Additionally, a medical professional can examine the wound to check for any harm to bodily tissues like bones or nerves.
To lower their risk of contracting tetanus, they might need to get vaccinated if they haven’t in the previous five years.
If more than five years have passed since their last dose, people with a dirty wound should receive a booster dose of the tetanus vaccine, advises the American Academy of Pediatrics. People who haven’t had a booster shot in more than ten years should get one for a clean wound.
People might require stitches to close wounds if they have facial or severe wounds. A postexposure rabies vaccine is required to protect someone from the possibility of contracting rabies if they are unaware of the dog’s history of rabies vaccination.
There is a greater chance of infection from bites on the hands or feet. Some infections brought on by dog bites can be extremely serious and cause complications. Without treatment, these infections can be fatal.
People who contract a Capnocytophaga infection after being bitten by a dog may experience the following signs:
After a dog bite, symptoms may appear anywhere from 1 to 14 days later. The following factors can increase a person’s risk of infection:
Untreated animal bites can sometimes lead to sepsis. A severe response to infection known as sepsis can be fatal. Signs of sepsis include:
One should get immediate medical help if they think they may have sepsis. A doctor will treat sepsis with antibiotics and intravenous fluids.
If a dog with rabies bites a person, they could contract the disease. The first symptoms of rabies are:
Rabies is fatal if a person does not receive treatment. If a person suspects a dog they were bitten by may have rabies, they should visit their doctor right away. Postexposure rabies vaccination can treat the infection.
Tetanus is a serious infection. People with any symptoms of tetanus need immediate medical attention. They will need to take medications, like antibiotics, and get a tetanus shot.
A person should seek emergency care if they believe a dog bite has injured their nerves or bones. If an infection has spread to other body parts, urgent care is also required.
Additionally, individuals should seek medical attention if the dog that bit them displayed unusual behavior or if they are unsure whether the animal has received a rabies vaccination.
If people wash the bite wound right away after a dog bite, they might be able to prevent getting an infection. Before applying a bandage to keep the wound clean, they can wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water or hold it under running water.
A doctor should be consulted for any deeper wounds so they can apply a dressing and clean out the wound with saline solution.
Any signs of infection near the wound, such as: should prompt people to consult a doctor right away.
A doctor may suggest antibiotics to treat the infection if the patient is at risk of getting sick from a dog bite. Some people may require a tetanus or rabies vaccination to guard against contracting these infections.
The good news: in the vast majority of cases, puppy biting and mouthing is EXTREMELY normal, for several reasons:
Here’s our Advice on Dealing with Dog Bites
Clean the wound with running water first, then apply hydrogen peroxide or isopropyl alcohol if it is a superficial scrape or gash. Apply a topical antibiotic and cover with a bandage.
Disease and Rabies
If you are bitten by an unknown dog, the American Red Cross suggests that you do not try to stop, catch, or hold the animal. Contact animal control as soon as possible so they can try to capture the dog, and call 911 so you can begin rabies vaccinations right away.
The animal that bit you may be rabid if it exhibits aggressive behavior, appears to be partially paralyzed, or otherwise behaves strangely.
Because all animal bites can spread bacteria and result in infection, it is important to thoroughly clean and disinfect the wound after any bite.
FAQ
What should I do if my puppy bites me?
Give a loud yelp as soon as your puppy’s teeth make contact with you. Then immediately walk away from him. Ignore him for 30 to 60 seconds. Leave the room for 30 to 60 seconds if your puppy follows you or continues to bite and nip at you.
Should I be worried if I got bitten by a puppy?
Dog Bite Treatments. Despite the fact that you can administer first aid for a dog bite at home, it’s crucial to visit a doctor, especially if a strange dog bit you, the bite is deep, you can’t stop the bleeding, or there are any signs of infection (redness, swelling, warmth, pus).
Can a puppy bite give you rabies?
A bite exposure is defined as any tooth contact with the skin. Any bite poses a risk of rabies transmission, regardless of where on the body it occurs, but this risk varies depending on the species of animal that bit the victim, where the bite occurred anatomically, and how severe the wound was.
Is it normal if my puppy bites me?
Although dog trainers refer to it as “play biting,” it is annoying and frequently painful when your adorable puppy seems to be all teeth. However, you can train your puppy to stop doing this with just a few easy steps because it is completely normal for puppies to teethe and necessary for development.