4 Ways to Treat Dog Bites

1. Take Immediate Action

You should treat dog bites as soon as they happen. When you quickly treat the wound, you drastically reduce your chance of infection. You'll want to first call for help and get safely away from the dog to prevent further attacks. You should then clean the bite area thoroughly and note the depth of the wound. Hold a clean gauze bandage at the site to apply pressure and help stop the bleeding. Apply a small amount of antibiotic ointment to the wound and then secure the bandage in place with surgical tape. Change the bandages every day and apply new ointment until it completely heals. While putting on new bandages, look for any signs of infections.

2. Don't Doubt Calling the Doc

In some cases, dog bite victims may hesitate calling their doctor regarding the injury. If you're unsure about the severity of the wound or don't know the health of the dog that bit you, call a doctor or go to the emergency room right away. You're better off letting them examine the wound and treat it properly to prevent infection. In certain dog bite situations, you should always call your doctor. For example, notify a physician when a dog bites you on your face, the wound does not stop bleeding after 10 minutes or more, and you show any symptoms of infection. Infection symptoms include redness, swelling, pain and fever.

3. Hospital Care

If you go to the hospital for a serious dog bite, you'll likely get taken back right away for treatment. A physician will come in and examine the wound thoroughly to get an idea on the severity of the injury. After cleaning the area, the doctor may suture the wound closed if it's very deep. Otherwise, they'll bandage it and have you monitor the healing process. You'll also receive a tetanus shot if several years have passed since your last one. If they suspect an infection, the doctor will order you to receive IV antibiotics and stay for monitoring.

4. Rabies Fears

Many dog bite victims fear getting rabies if the dog wasn't their own. In fact, your chances of getting rabies from a dog bite are relatively slim, especially if the dog does not show signs of ill health. However, you should find out the dog's vet history to make sure the animal received all rabies vaccinations. If the dog has a questionable history or you're unable to find the animal, your doctor may recommend protecting yourself with a series of rabies shots. Notify the local animal control agency if you suspect a dog has rabies.