Treatments for a person bitten by a dog

Dogs are formidable predators as the capability of the teeth and the jaws to deliver up to 450 pound pressure can create serious injuries. When the strong jaws of the dog have locked on its victim, the needle sharp teeth can literally tear the flesh away. A dog’s teeth and jaws are very powerful so that if the teeth has latched on a limb and cause serious injuries, the victim’s mobility can be impaired for life. Serious injuries caused by dog bites can be the cause of the victims death. When a dog sinks its teeth on the flesh of the victim, bacteria will be injected on the deep puncture wounds causing infections and viral diseases. A potential life threatening outcome of dog bites is rabies.

Because of humans’ constant interaction with dogs, dog bites cannot be totally prevented. Dog bites that are most common in children are often caused by the family’s own dog. How do you treat a dog bite?

First aid must be administered on dog bite wounds to prevent infection but treatment must not be started until the dog is removed to prevent further attacks. Lacerations and deep puncture wounds are the two basic types of wounds that can result from dog bites. Infection commonly occurs in deep puncture wounds as the teeth inject bacteria to the wound. Dog bites can result to serious skin lacerations.

Puncture wounds that are not heavy bleeders must be allowed to bleed so that the bacteria will be cleansed from the wound. Lacerations commonly bleed profusely. By applying direct pressure on the wound, bleeding can be stopped. To prevent infection, wounds resulting from dog bites must be thoroughly cleaned.

Stitching of the lacerations would have to be done in medical facilities but just the same, the wound has to be cleaned properly as the several hours that the patient has to wait for medical treatment would give the bacteria the chance to become established in the wound. Washing the wound with antibacterial soap for about five minutes will lessen the risk of infection. Apply antibiotic ointment and cover with sterile gauze. A dog bite victim will be in pain. The pain that is mostly caused by the swelling will be minimized with an application of ice compress on the bite wound.

Rabies is a potential health risk that will devastate dog bite victims particularly if it is impossible to verify whether the dog has had rabies vaccination. Dog bite victims of stray dogs with an unknown rabies immunization status have to undergo rabies immunization therapy .

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