Dog Bites & Infections

A dog bite is a serious injury requiring immediate medical attention. Though it may look at first like no more than a scratch, a dog bite can transmit infections that may cause illnesses throughout the body. If you have been bitten by a dog, you should contact your doctor or visit a clinic right away to receive proper medical treatment.

Prevention

• Never approach a strange dog without asking the owner if the dog is friendly. Even then, keep a respectful distance from the dog, allowing it to come to your hand to be petted. Do not hug a dog or put your face near its face. Many dogs interpret this behavior as threatening and may bite out of fear or dominance. Never play tug of war with a dog unless you are very sure of its temperament, and always release the toy if the dog starts to growl or appears to be getting out of control when playing. Never enter the home of a dog--even one that knows you--without being invited inside by the owner in the dog's presence. If a dog appears ready to attack, slowly back away, making no eye contact with the dog. If a dog charges you, drop to the ground and crouch with your arms covering your face. Do not scream, even if the dog proceeds to attack you. The noise will only excite the dog's predatory instinct, which could make the attack worse. Remain still until help arrives or the dog loses interest in the attack.

Managing Bites

• Wash the dog bite wound several times with warm, soapy water. If the lacerations are deep, use a piece of tape or "H" type bandage to close the wound until it can be stitched. Do not apply ointment until a physician has thoroughly irrigated the wound with a sterile saline solution. Call your doctor or local emergency room to let them know that you are coming in with a dog bite wound. If the dog is nearby and calm, have someone secure the dog so that it can be tested for rabies or other infectious diseases later. If the dog that bit you was a stray, notify your local animal control officer about the attack so that it can be picked up and held at the shelter for testing. Have someone drive you to your doctor, emergency room or walk-in clinic. Even if you feel okay to drive, you could be suffering from shock and become faint while driving.

Medical Treatment

• Your physician will irrigate your bite wound to remove any traces of saliva and possible infectious agents from the area of your skin. If skin around the bite is dead, he will remove it to prevent decay. Depending on where the wound is, he may or may not decide to stitch the wound. Although facial lacerations are quick-healing, due to the number of capillaries near the skin of the face, plastic surgery may be required if the bite is deep or jagged. Smooth lacerations may be allowed to heal without stitching, which closes up the wound and may allow infections to fester under the skin. If you have not had a tetanus shot in the past three years, your doctor will give you one to prevent tetanus and possible "Lock Jaw," a complication of tetanus that causes partial paralysis of the facial muscles. If the dog was a stray and was not captured, or if the dog is found not to have been up to date on his shots, you will have to undergo a series of rabies shots to prevent a rabies infection. Your doctor will probably suggest that you keep the bite area elevated and that you return for re-examination in 24 to 48 hours.

Infections

• Although not all dog bite wounds become infected, when they do--20 to 30 percent of the time--it is due to one of several types of polymicrobial organisms, including Pasteurella multocida and Staphylococcus aureus. There are a total of 28 species of aerobic and anaerobic organisms thought to be associated with dog bite infections. Because of the risks associated with infection, doctors will usually prescribe an antibiotic for at least three days to treat the dog bite victim prophylactically.

Rabies Vaccination

• There are three types of rabies vaccination that may be administered in the event that the offending dog cannot be held for a 10-day quarantine after biting the victim. All three vaccines--the human diploid cell vaccine (HDCV), rabies vaccine adsorbed (RVA) and purified chick embryo cell vaccine (PCEC)--are safe for use in human patients and may be administered intramuscularly. If required, your doctor will administer these vaccinations on days 0, 3, 7, 14 and 28 after you have been bitten. If the animal is found and proves not to have rabies during the course of the victim's immunizations, the vaccines may be discontinued with no ill effects.