Contents
Threat to people
There is an opinion that “a dog is a man’s best friend”. In many ways, this is true. Four-legged pets are very smart animals, but no one is ever immune from the fact that such a “friend” can bite.
It doesn’t matter what breed the dog is, or what size. Its bite is considered very dangerous to health and poses a threat even to human life. It doesn’t matter if it’s a pet or a stray. Even having all the necessary vaccinations does not protect against the consequences that accompany a bite.
Most often, cases are recorded when a strange dog that lives on the street and leads a wild lifestyle rushes at a person. There are situations that even a domestic, seemingly tame pet clings to its owner with a stranglehold. It is impossible to predict the behavior of a dog, therefore, in dealing with these pets, you should always be on the alert.
Causes of aggressiveness
Quite often, large dogs can injure a person during play. Yes, and small breeds with sharp teeth can damage the skin and even bite through it. Children’s games with these animals are especially dangerous. A large percentage of injuries from dog bites go specifically to adolescents and children under the age of 3 years.
The second factor that provokes the aggressiveness of tetrapods in relation to humans is anger. It can be caused by hunger, bad attitude of the owner and other reasons. The disease can also cause aggressive behavior.
Homeless dogs behave especially viciously, which they smelled in the vicinity of individuals of the opposite sex. They can gather in whole flocks that run restlessly through the streets and create a special danger to people. Clusters of stray animals should be avoided and in no case should not attract their attention.
Types of bites
If it happens that a person has become a victim of a dog attack, the main thing is to know how to provide first aid and what to expect from such injuries. There are two types of bites, which have different degrees of severity:
Surface bite
The dog only pierces the skin with his teeth and a stab wound is formed.
Ragged bite
The injuries are more severe, the wounds are lacerated and there may be severe blood loss.
The areas of the human body that the dog most often aims at are the ankles, thighs, palms, and forearms. In children, when attacked by dogs, the face and shoulders can suffer. The biggest danger is bites in the neck and head. In these cases, open and depressed skull fractures and internal bleeding are possible, which can be fatal.
Symptoms after a dog bite
What happens after an animal attack? First of all, an infection begins to develop, especially if the necessary first aid measures have not been taken. Bacteria spread rapidly during the first day, but it is best to start treatment immediately, without waiting for complications of the condition. The presence of infection is characterized by the appearance of inflammation, the separation of pus from the wound, the formation of a reddish rash in the area of damage.
With the development of infection due to a dog bite, there is:
swollen lymph nodes;
bouts of fever;
increased body temperature;
lymphangitis.
Local bacteria in contact with the affected area of the skin can cause a complication (bacteremia). This is a serious disease that can result in a brain abscess, infective endocarditis, meningitis. Mostly, this happens with victims who have weakened immunity.
If the site of damage was on the bones and joints, then this threatens the development of osteomyelitis and arthritis.
rabid dog bite
If a person has become a victim of a rabid animal, then immediate medical assistance is necessary, otherwise a fatal outcome is inevitable. The saliva of an infected quadruped penetrates the bloodstream and rapidly spreads through the vessels, penetrating the brain. Damage to the nervous system is no longer treatable, that is, death occurs.
Symptoms that appear after a rabid dog attack:
causeless fear;
insomnia;
irritability;
a sharp increase in temperature;
pain
When the situation worsens:
hallucinations are the first and main symptom of rabies infection;
severe headaches;
profuse sweating;
muscle spasms;
paralysis.
If, after the bite of a rabid animal, you do not urgently go to the hospital, then blood poisoning (sepsis) begins and further treatment will be ineffective, and sometimes even ineffective. People’s lives depend on the speed of providing first aid measures to prevent infection.
First aid for a dog bite
Immediately after a dog bite, wash the damaged area with warm water and soap. It is advisable to use household detergent, which contains a large percentage of alkali. It is this component that has a destructive effect on viruses and other bacteria that have entered the wound. The soapy water will remove the animal’s saliva and dirt.
Next, you need to carefully treat the bitten skin with an antiseptic. For this, iodine, a solution of brilliant green or potassium permanganate are suitable. In extreme cases, you can use hydrogen peroxide if nothing else was found at hand.
Further, it is recommended to apply any ointment that acts as an antibiotic. Or sprinkle antibiotic powder on top.
After treatment, cover the wound with a sterile dressing. It is not worth bandaging tightly, as dangerous bacteria will also be separated with the release of blood.
Having taken the necessary pre-medical first aid measures, you should immediately go to the doctor, who will assess the condition of the victim and prescribe further treatment.
To conduct effective therapy for a dog bite, the doctor will need information about the health of the animal and whether it has the necessary vaccinations. If the attack was from a stray dog, then a thorough laboratory examination will need to be carried out to identify signs of infection with rabies and tetanus.
If a person himself suspected that he was attacked by a rabid dog, his first actions should be:
To avoid infection, you need to strongly compress the wound to provoke bleeding.
Disinfection.
Bandage application.
Contacting a doctor. The specialist should immediately be warned about the possible rabies of the animal that caused the injury.
How to treat a dog bite
Therapy should be started no later than 8 hours after the incident. An obligatory condition for the treatment of such wounds is the use of antibiotics (amoxicillin, clavulanate). Their action prevents infection of the body and kills bacteria that live in the saliva of animals. If the patient has allergic reactions to drugs of the penicillin group, then they are replaced with metronidazole and doxycycline.
The wound should be covered with a bandage at all times. You can take analgesics to relieve pain at the site of the bite. To prevent sepsis, you need to make appropriate injections. If the dog has been vaccinated, then it will be enough to inject the victim with an injection of tetanus. If there is a suspicion of rabies, then additional measures will be required.
In the case of lacerated wounds, suturing will be required, which, in combination with taking medications, is an important condition for the patient’s speedy recovery.
Prevention of bites
Avoid close contact of children with pets, and even more so stray pets.
Do not approach the dog while eating.
Do not disturb a sleeping animal.
Do not take puppies from a lactating dog.
Do not separate fighting quadrupeds.
Compliance with these measures will help protect yourself and your loved ones from possible dog bites and avoid sad consequences!