A dog bite is a bite upon a person or other animal by a dog. More than one successive bite is often called a dog attack, although dog attacks can include knock-downs and scratches. Though many dog bites do not result in injury , they can result in infection,temporary or permanent disability, or death. Another type of dog bite is the “soft bite” displayed by well-trained dogs, by puppies and in non-aggressive play. Dog bites can occur during dog fighting , as a response to mistreatment, trained dogs acting as guard or military animals, or during a random encounter.
The type of first aid you administer will be determined by the severity of the bite.
If your skin wasn’t broken, wash the area with warm water and soap. You can also apply an antibacterial lotion to the area as a precaution.
If your skin was broken, wash the area with warm soap and water and gently press on the wound to promote a small amount of bleeding. This will help flush out germs.
If the bite is already bleeding, apply a clean cloth to the wound and gently press down to stop the flow. Follow up with an application of antibacterial lotion and cover with a sterile bandage.
All dog bite wounds, even minor ones, should be monitored for signs of infection until they’re completely healed.
Check the bite often to see if it becomes:
- red
- swollen
- warm
- tender to the touch
If the wound gets worse, you feel pain, or develop a fever, see a doctor immediately
