What Are the Treatments for Small Dog Bites?

Dog bites affect almost five million people each year in the United States, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. A good portion of those bites are from small dogs that tend to scare easily and be more defensive. Caring for a dog bite is often something that can be done at home with some simple first aid, but more serious bites may require professional medical attention. Treatment for small dog bites is the same as treatment for large dog bites, and differs only with the severity of the wound.

First Aid

• If a minor bite occurs and there is no gaping wound or excessive bleeding, then the bite can likely be treated with some basic first-aid techniques.

  The wound should be cleaned thoroughly by washing with soap and water. Using a clean towel, apply pressure to the wound in order to stop any bleeding. Cover the wound with antibiotic ointment to speed healing and help prevent infection, and then place a sterile bandage around the wound. Change the bandage regularly.

Stitches

• Gaping bite wounds may require a doctor to insert stitches to close the opening and prevent excessive scarring or infection. In many cases, the wound is left open to encourage faster healing when possible.

Antibiotics

• If the bite wound shows signs of infection, the doctor may prescribe oral antibiotics to help kill infections and speed healing. In cases of a severe infection, it may be necessary for the bite victim to receive intravenous antibiotics.

Tetanus Shot

• Doctors may ask bite victims when they last received a tetanus shot. If it has been more than five years since the last tetanus shot, the doctor may elect to give the patient another one. Tetanus is a life-threatening bacterial infection that causes breathing difficulty and muscle spasms.

  It is unlikely that a dog bite will cause tetanus, but the shot will ensure the patient is not at risk just in case.

Rabies Precautions

• Rabies passes to humans by the saliva of an infected animal, and the virus can often be deadly. It is usually obvious if an attacking animal has rabies because of its unusual behavior and appearance, and domestic animals usually do not carry the virus in the U.S. Wild animal bites, on the other hand, are far more likely to be a threat.

  When a dog bite occurs, most patients will not need rabies shots unless the dog appeared to be unhealthy. If a bite victim knows who owns the dog that bit him, he should ask for vaccination records as a precaution. Otherwise, a call to animal control or the health department could lead to a capture and testing of the animal. If the animal is a stray that cannot be found or a captured animal shows signs of rabies, the doctor will likely want the bite victim to get a series of rabies shots.