What to Do If You Get Bitten by a Dog

Dog bites sound minor. However, you must know that dog saliva contains enzymes that can be potentially deadly over the long term. Here are first aid tips to dealing with dog bites.

A dog bite is never a pretty sight. You have to deal with your emotions first, remain calm and act with your sanity intact to be able to treat the wound. Besides the painful gash, rabies is a grave disease that can kill you, if you do not properly attend to the situation. Some people can acquire the rabies virus several years, apparently unaffected at first, but later on developing adverse symptoms.

Every dog’s saliva contains enzymes that are potentially lethal to the human body. It will take several years before symptoms develop but, once present, are irreversible. You have to know the immediate and appropriate measures in order to save yourself. Here are some steps on what to do if you get bitten by a dog.

1. Stay calm.

An animal attack can leave you bewildered and shocked. Contain yourself after the bite and try to identify the animal because you will need to observe it later on. Do not panic and have the presence of mind to treat your wound at once. Quickly go inside the house to attend to it.

2. Wash.

Find a faucet and let cool running water flow over the wound. Get some soap and wash the wound thoroughly. Keep the water running at all times as you wash it. You may need to reapply the soap two to three times to fully cleanse the area. Rinse thoroughly and dab dry with a clean towel.

3. Medication.

Apply antiseptic lotion and antibacterial cream on the wound to prevent contamination. It is more commonly advised that you do not put any bandages on the wound to hasten healing through air drying. But if you need to, feel free to put on a band-aid or sterile bandage. Larger and deep wounds should be washed the same way with soap and running water, then brought to the hospital for possible stitches and other wound treatments.

4. Consult your doctor.

Always go to your doctor after a dog bite so that he can give you the necessary shots needed to prevent viral contamination or infection. Some individuals are more susceptible to developing infection or diseases after a dog bite, like children, HIV or AIDS patients, organ donors, and the elderly. These people must take extra caution after being bitten to prevent complications.

5. Observe the dog.

There are two reasons why you should observe the dog, both medical and legal. Medically, the dog that bit you should be confined and observed for ten to fourteen days to check if the bite was rabid. Rabid bites will eventually kill the dog in fourteen days, due to the release of enzymes and bacteria. It also indicates that you should take antiviral and tetanus shots to prevent rabies. Legally, you can contact the owner to receive compensation for your injuries.

Wash, reapply antiseptic agents and put fresh bandages over the wound daily. It’s actually easy to prevent being bitten by a dog. Stay away from dangerous and agitated animals and move slowly. It’s better if you bring a stick or stone for protection when passing through unleashed territory.

Author: Julieta Chin