You've been bitten by an animal or person and: Show
Call 999 for an ambulance if you're unable to go to A&E. If a body part, such as part of a finger or ear has been torn off, wrap it in clean tissue and put it in a plastic bag with ice so it can be taken to hospital. If a dog bite pierces a person’s skin, bacteria from the animal’s mouth can get into the body, which can cause an infection. Washing the wound thoroughly can remove the bacteria from the body and help prevent infection. If the bacteria stay in the body, they can cause an infection, such as tetanus, rabies, or sepsis. In some cases, an infection can spread to other parts of the body. People will need antibiotics or vaccinations to treat these types of infection. Symptoms of a dog bite infection can include:
Signs that the infection may have spread to other parts of the body include: To help prevent infection from a dog bite, people should wash the wound as soon as possible. People can treat minor wounds by:
People should deal with deeper, more serious wounds by:
People may be able to use at-home treatments to prevent a dog bite from becoming infected. Cleaning minor wounds immediately is often sufficient. However, people should see a doctor for more serious wounds. A doctor may use a syringe to apply water and a cleaning solution to the wound. Doing this helps flush out bacteria from the wound. The doctor may then prescribe antibiotics to fight off any bacteria that have entered the body and prevent infection. A doctor will also be able to examine the wound to look for any damage to structures in the body, such as nerves or bones. If the person has not had a tetanus vaccine in the last 5 years, they may need to have one to reduce the risk of tetanus. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, people with a dirty wound should have a booster tetanus vaccine if more than 5 years have passed since their last shot. For a clean wound, people should have a booster vaccine if it has been more than 10 years since their last shot. In cases of severe or facial wounds, people may need stitches to close the wound. If the person does not know the dog’s history of rabies vaccination, they will need a postexposure rabies vaccine to protect them from the possibility of rabies. Bites on the hands or feet carry a higher risk of infection. Certain infections from dog bites can be very serious and lead to complications. Without treatment, these infections can be fatal. CapnocytophagaIf people have a Capnocytophaga infection from a dog bite, they may have the following symptoms:
Symptoms can appear between 1 and 14 days after a dog bite. The following factors can increase a person’s risk of infection:
Without treatment, complications of Capnocytophaga infection can include:
A doctor will prescribe antibiotics to treat a Capnocytophaga infection. SepsisUntreated animal bites can sometimes lead to sepsis. Sepsis is a severe reaction to infection, and it can be life threatening. Signs of sepsis include:
If a person suspects that they have sepsis, they should seek immediate medical attention. A doctor will treat sepsis with antibiotics and intravenous fluids. RabiesPeople can get rabies if a dog that has rabies bites them. The first symptoms of rabies are:
Rabies is fatal if a person does not receive treatment. People should see their doctor straight away if they think that the dog that bit them might have rabies. Postexposure rabies vaccination can treat the infection. TetanusA dog bite can cause tetanus bacteria to enter the body. Symptoms of tetanus include:
Tetanus is a serious infection. People with any symptoms of tetanus need immediate medical attention. They will require medications, such as antibiotics, as well as a tetanus vaccine. People should seek emergency medical attention for a dog bite if they have:
If a person thinks that a dog bite has resulted in damage to the nerves or bones, they should seek emergency treatment. Emergency treatment is also necessary if an infection has spread to other parts of the body. People should also seek medical attention if the dog that bit them was acting strangely, or they are unsure whether the dog has received a vaccine against rabies. People may be able to avoid getting an infection from a dog bite if they wash the wound straight away. They can hold the wound under running water or use soap and water to wash it thoroughly before covering the wound with a bandage to keep it clean. For deeper wounds, the person should see a doctor, who will wash out the wound with a saline solution and apply a dressing. People should see their doctor straight away if they have any symptoms of infection around the wound, such as:
If the person is at risk of developing an infection from a dog bite, a doctor may prescribe antibiotics to fight the infection. In some cases, people may need a tetanus or rabies vaccine to prevent these types of infection. Only a doctor can assess your situation and explain whether you will need a tetanus shot after a dog bite. However, one may be warranted if you have not had a booster shot within the past 10 years, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Determining Your Risk of TetanusMany people commonly think the risk of contracting a tetanus infection occurs after suffering a cut or puncture wound involving metal. However, tetanus is also possible after a dog bite. Tetanus does not always occur after a dog bite that punctures the skin. Still, because it is so easy to prevent tetanus with a booster shot, doctors often recommend that dog bite victims update their tetanus booster, just to be safe. Incubation Period for TetanusAnother reason doctors recommend dog bite victims receive a tetanus booster shot quickly is because of the illness’s random incubation period. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a tetanus infection usually shows up within 14 days of the wound. However, some people develop symptoms within one day, while others may not see symptoms for several months. Rather than allowing the tetanus bacteria to remain untreated in the body for weeks until symptoms show up, doctors may prefer to treat dog bite victims with the booster—unless they had a shot within the past 10 years. For a free legal consultation, call 877-239-4878Follow the Doctor’s AdviceWhen you see a doctor, it’s important to follow their recommendations regarding your dog bite, both for your safety and if you plan to seek compensation from the dog’s owner. If you do not follow through on the treatment they recommend, this refusal could lead to a lower settlement amount in a personal injury case related to the dog attack. Regarding whether you need to get a tetanus shot after a dog bite, you certainly should receive one if the doctor recommends it. If you refuse, the insurance company representing the dog owner may argue that you did not take your injuries seriously. This could lead to a reduction or denial of your financial award. Why Seek Compensation After a Dog Bite?If a dog owner fails to secure their animal and it bites a person and causes bodily injury, the owner may be liable. If this happened to you, you may qualify to seek compensation to cover your medical expenses and other damages. Our law firm could help. At Loncar Lyon Jenkins, we work on a contingency-fee-basis. With this type of payment structure, we do not require any payment from our clients ahead of time. Instead, we receive a percentage of the final settlement in the case as our fee. Contact our personal injury lawyers todayCall Our Attorneys for Help TodayFor a free review of your case, contact us today at (877) 239-4878. We will begin working as soon as you choose to hire us. Call or text 877-239-4878 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form |