Dog Bite Injury – Treatments for Dog Bites

by admin | March 19th, 2010

Unfortunately, dogs can sometimes attack, nip, or bite with no warning. This usually happens when a person gets too close to a dog they don’t know and the dog feels threatened and strikes. This is also common when children get to close to a dog they don’t know. Children are especially susceptible to a dog bite injury because they are small, short, react slowly, and are easily within a dog’s reach.

First, evaluate the situation. Is the skin broken? Is the victim bleeding? Do you know the dog or is it a strange dog that could have rabies? If the skin is broken or if the victim has been bitten by an unknown dog, a trip to the doctor’s office or emergency room is a good idea. If the wound is bleeding badly or the skin is gaping open, call 911 and get instructions on what to do.

If it is not an emergency situation, you will need to clean the area of the dog bite injury. Use regular soap and water and cover the area with a bandage or gauze. Call your family doctor and ask if you need to come in and have the dog bite injury checked.

Use common sense to prevent a dog bite. Stay away from dogs you don’t know. And especially keep children away from unknown dogs or from very large dogs. When meeting a new dog for the first time, put out your had in a fisted position and let the dog sniff you – never stick your fingers out as the dog could easily bite them.