How to treat a puncture wound from a dog bite?
Dog bites can cause puncture wounds and should be treated promptly to cleanse and close the wound and to provide infection prevention. In this lesson, we will review the care of a dog bite puncture wound and the signs of infection that may indicate that further medical care is necessary.
What should I do about a dog bite?
Dog bites can cause puncture wounds and should be treated promptly to cleanse and close the wound and to provide infection prevention.
When to take a dog to the ER for a bite wound?
Bite Wounds in Dogs One of the most common reasons dogs see their veterinarians for emergency appointments is because of a bite wound. Estimates suggest that dog bite wounds account for about ten percent of the traumatic injuries that veterinarians see on a routine basis. There are certain symptoms that require immediate emergency treatment.
Can a dog bite you in the face?
But dogs are still animals, and sometimes they can accidentally bite us. The city of Alexandria, VA defines a dog bite as, “any contact by a dog that results in broken skin, including puncture, bite or scratch.” While most injuries are minor, about 1 in 5 times dog bites need a doctor’s care.
What are the signs of a dog bite?
Dog bite warning signs that may be more recognizable include: Growling. Barking and snapping. Rigid body. Tail high and wagging quickly without other body movement. Tucked tail. Raised fur. Head lowered with eyes raised.
What are symptoms of dog bite?
Symptoms of Dog bite. The list of signs and symptoms mentioned in various sources for Dog bite includes the 3 symptoms listed below: Teeth marks. Wound. Bleeding.
What to do if bitten by a dog?
Seek Medical Treatment. If you’re bitten by a dog, you should wash your wounds with soap and water and seek professional medical care as soon as possible. Because almost 1 out of 5 dog bites becomes infected, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends visiting a doctor for any animal bite, no matter how minor it may appear.
What is the treatment for an infected dog bite?
Antibiotic ointments are among the dog bite treatment essentials. Apply an antibiotic ointment immediately after cleaning the wound. Antibiotics can prevent an infection. If the wound is already infected, the antibiotics can fight the infection.
What happens if you get a dog bite on your hand?
Bites on the hands or feet carry a higher risk of infection. Certain infections from dog bites can be very serious and lead to complications. Without treatment, these infections can be fatal.
How long does it take for a dog bite to heal?
Bruising will almost always develop a few days after the injury, and it is very common for the skin immediately surrounding the puncture wounds to die. Intense wound care is needed as quickly as possible, until the body can heal the wound on its own. This can sometimes require many weeks of care and sometimes also requires additional surgery.
What is the severity of a dog bite?
Dog bites are classified by severity. Level 1: The dog’s teeth don’t touch the skin. Level 2: The dog’s teeth touch, but do not break, the skin. Level 3: There are one to four shallow puncture wounds in the skin. Level 4: One to four punctures from a single bite. At least one puncture wound is deep.
When to see a doctor for dog bite treatment?
If the dog bite is minor—a Level 1, 2 or 3 bite—you can probably safely manage the bite at home. Wash the wound daily, and check it for signs of infection, including redness, swelling, warmth, a foul odor, or whitish-yellow discharge.
Bruising will almost always develop a few days after the injury, and it is very common for the skin immediately surrounding the puncture wounds to die. Intense wound care is needed as quickly as possible, until the body can heal the wound on its own. This can sometimes require many weeks of care and sometimes also requires additional surgery.
What happens when you don’t get a dog bite treated?
Womp womp. So, I sat back down at my laptop and wasted time using my left hand (I’m right handed) until Mike got home. He cleaned it out more with soapy water and alcohol and covered it in bandages. It didn’t look good — it was starting to swell and it hurt like a motherfucker.
