You got bit by a dog. Now what?
While most dog bites usually cause only minor injuries, taking care of the wound is only the initial step in preventing infection and averting serious complications that may occur as a result of the bite.
If you or someone you are with is bit by a dog, it important to be proactive and take preventive action to ensure that the dog bite does not lead to serious (and sometimes fatal) complications. Following are important steps to follow after a dog bite to ensure the safety of the person who was bitten.
Important Steps to Take After a Dog Bite
Take Care of the Wound
To help prevent infection from a dog bite, you should wash the wound as soon as possible. Treat a minor wound by:
- Washing it with mild soap and water, making sure you thoroughly clean the area
- Running warm water over the wound for about 5-10 minutes to flush out bacteria
- Pressing a dry, clean cloth firmly against the wound to stop any bleeding
- Applying an over-the-counter antibiotic cream to the wound
- Putting a clean bandage over it
Deeper, more serious wounds should be treated by a doctor immediately. Call 911 or get emergency help if the bleeding is uncontrollable or the person loses consciousness.
Even if the wound is not serious, you should always seek professional medical treatment after being bitten or attacked by a dog. Dog bites carry a high risk of infection and although rare, this may include rabies which can be fatal if left untreated.
Gather Information about the Dog
Just as important as caring for the wound, you should immediately identify the owner of the dog, if it is not known. Consider the following:
- Is the dog owned by someone you know or a stray dog?
- Obtain the name, address and phone number of the owner if you don’t know it
- Find out if the dog’s vaccinations are up to date
- Request proof of a rabies vaccination
It is extremely important to find out of the dig that bit you has been vaccinated for rabies.
Be Aware of the Risk of Rabies
While rabies is rarely found in the US in domesticated animals like dogs because of widespread vaccination rates, if the dog's health status is unknown and you cannot confirm that the dog has been vaccinated, you should be treated by a doctor immediately.
If you cannot obtain any information about the dog, its owners, or its vaccination status, you will need to undergo a series of rabies shots. Rabies is a fatal disease caused by a virus that is spread to humans from a bite or scratch from an infected animal. The rabies virus attacks the brain and nervous system and if not treated, is always fatal.
The Department of Health states, “Treatment after rabies exposure consists of a dose of human rabies immune globulin (HRIG) given as soon as possible after exposure, plus 4 shots of rabies vaccine given over two weeks.”
Treatment for Other Infections
Although you may receive confirmation that the dog has an up-to-date rabies vaccination, you should still seek medical treatment to reduce the risk of other bite-related infections and complications.