Dogs have been man’s best friends for millennia. If you’re a dog owner, you may think no animal is safer and gentler than your furry pal. However, it’s essential to remember that dogs are still animals and can bite anyone, anytime.
Dogs bite more than 4.5 million Americans yearly, with 1 in 5 victims needing medical attention. These injuries may cause infections, such as tetanus, sepsis, and the most infamous—rabies. Knowing how to handle dog bites is critical to saving victims from further injuries, diseases, or death. Read on to find out more.
Why Do Dogs Bite?
Like most animals, biting isn’t necessarily a sign of aggression. Some dogs bite as a form of play or due to curiosity. However, the problem arises when a dog deliberately causes injury due to fear, nervousness, or protectiveness. During these instances, it may show aggression and bite to protect itself, its puppies, or its owners.
Dogs show signs of aggression that signal an impending bite. You may see some stillness, lunging, barking, growling, and snarling actions. Watching for these signs can help you avoid bites and other injuries when encountering an aggressive dog. In these moments, you must stay still, be calm, and avoid direct eye contact with the animal until it backs down.
6 First Aid Tips for Dog Bites
Prevent is always better than cure. The best way for someone facing an aggressive dog is to de-escalate and escape the situation unharmed. However, you must know how to manage the injury safely if someone gets bitten to prevent worsening the wound’s condition. Here’s how to do so.
1. Wash the wound
Cleanse the wound thoroughly with mild soap and lukewarm water to clean dirt, debris, and microbes that may infect or worsen it.
2. Control the bleeding
Stop the flow if the wound is bleeding by applying gentle pressure around the area.
However, if the dog’s teeth broke the skin but the wound never bled, you need to promote bleeding. Doing so can flush out germs and deter infections. Gently press the injury until it bleeds, then stop the flow.
3. Apply antibiotic cream
Apply antiseptic or antibiotic cream around the injured area to clean it further and minimize the chance of infection.
4. Dress the wound
Wrap the injury with a sterile bandage to keep it clean and protect it from dirt and debris. A clean cloth works in a pinch if you don’t have bandages.
5. Watch for infections
Check the wound for signs of infection, like redness, blistering, swelling, and pus. You must also observe the victim’s condition as they may start feeling feverish, nauseous, and fatigued if something is wrong with the injury.
6. Seek medical attention
Seek medical attention right away once you notice signs of infection. You should also rush the victim to an emergency room if the initial wound is deep and large with uncontrollable bleeding.
Also, an unfamiliar dog may have rabies, a virus often transmissible through animal bites. If you don’t have vaccinations against it, visit a hospital ASAP for postexposure prophylaxis. Remember, rabies is 100% fatal once its symptoms start to emerge.
Protect Your Loved Ones from Dog Bites
Even the most trained dogs can’t fight against their instincts to defend and protect by biting. That’s why it’s best to be careful whenever encountering an unfamiliar dog. You don’t know its temperament or health condition, so practicing caution is necessary. However, if you or your loved ones get bitten, perform the appropriate first aid measures to avoid infections, excessive blood loss, and other injuries.
For more information about handling dog bites, the infographic below discusses the necessary first aid treatment and pertinent insurance considerations to secure your finances.
