Yes. All dog bites, however minor, should be watched closely for signs of infection. If the wound starts to show any sign of redness, swelling, unusual warmth or being tender to the touch, you should get it checked by a medical professional.
Many dog bites can be cared for at home. But you should err on the side of caution — which means seeking medical attention — for all dog bites, especially ones that break the skin. You should definitely be evaluated by a medical provider if the wound is: Large or deep.
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.
Common Indications of a Dog Bite Infection
Oozing fluid from the wound. Loss of sensation in the region of the dog bite. Swollen lymph nodes. Night sweats.
For particularly severe bites, visit your local accident and emergency (A&E) department. The healthcare professional treating you may: clean the wound and remove any damaged tissue. prescribe a course of antibiotics to prevent infection.
University Hospitals Sussex (UHS) Safeguarding Children and Young People Team have been advised by Sussex police that if a child has been injured by a dog, the dog has to be reported to police by staff before your child is discharged.
However, The Cleveland Clinicnotes that getting a tetanus shot, or at least ensuring that you are up to date on your tetanus shot, is often a worthwhile precaution after getting bitten by a dog. A doctor may order a tetanus booster if your wound is dirty or you had your last shot more than five years ago.
Antibiotic prophylaxis commonly is recommended for moderate to severe wounds of the face, hands (bites tend to involve the dominant hand), feet or genital area. Bites involving tendon, bone or joints and bites resulting in devitalized tissue generally are treated with antibiotic prophylaxis.
If you were bitten by a cat, dog, or ferret that appeared healthy at the time you were bitten, it can be confined by its owner for 10 days and observed. No anti-rabies prophylaxis is needed. No person in the United States has ever contracted rabies from a dog, cat or ferret held in quarantine for 10 days.
If our doctors are concerned about infection, they may start you on a course of oral antibiotics to make sure that the bite does not become infected later. Dog bites are usually not stitched because of the risk of trapping harmful bacteria in the wound.
Let warm water run over the wound for 5 – 10 minutes, gently washing it with a mild soap. If blood is still flowing, use a clean towel or cloth and apply gentle pressure to stop it. Cover the wound with antibiotic cream. Depending on the size of the wound, use a bandaid or sterile bandage to keep the wound covered.
Mild amounts of pain are also normal in the first few days of the healing process, especially when the bitten body part is moving or being used. If pain or any of the aforementioned symptoms are moderate to severe, then you should go to urgent care for assistance.
*Clean the area with running water and soap, as much as possible. *Immediately seek the help of a medical expert. *After washing, you can also apply betadine or an antiseptic in liquid form. *Don't bandage the wound.
Overall, only a fifth of dog bites become infected, compared with 36% of hand bites,13 and loss of function can result from infection.
ANTIBIOTIC TREATMENT
Only 15 to 20 percent of dog bite wounds become infected. Crush injuries, puncture wounds and hand wounds are more likely to become infected than scratches or tears.
Dog attack on a person
If a dog has attacked or bitten a person it should be reported to the Police immediately by calling 101 or reporting it on the Police website. If someone is in immediate danger, call the Police on 999.
Penalties. You can get an unlimited fine or be sent to prison for up to 6 months (or both) if your dog is dangerously out of control. You may not be allowed to own a dog in the future and your dog may be destroyed. If you let your dog injure someone you can be sent to prison for up to 5 years or fined (or both).
You may need a tetanus vaccine if the injury has broken your skin and your tetanus vaccinations are not up to date. Tetanus is a serious but rare condition that can be fatal if untreated. The bacteria that can cause tetanus can enter your body through a wound or cut in your skin.
While injuries can range from minor to severe, you can still claim for dog bite compensation whatever your circumstances. Contact Express Solicitors today to start your no win, no fee dog bite claim.
A tetanus shot may be required if you have not had one within 10 years; if you are not sure when you had your last tetanus shot, and you've been bitten, you should get one within 72 hours after your injury. If bitten, but the bleeding is minor, cleanse and treat the wound as you would a minor wound.
In fact, dogs bite about 4.7 million Americans every year, half of them children between ages 5 and 9. One out of every five of those bites causes an injury that requires medical attention, according to the Centers for Disease Control.