Key takeaways:
Dog bites are common and most frequently involve a familiar dog.
Most dog bites are minor, and local wound care is the most important step to prevent infection.
Getting rabies from a dog bite in the U.S. is extremely rare. But wound infection from a dog bite happens in up to 20% of the cases and needs antibiotics to treat it.
Over 40% of households in the U.S. have at least 1 dog. It’s easy to see why: Dogs are a great source of well-being and stress relief for their owners. But about 4.5 million people are victims of dog attacks and bites each year. Children are the most common victims of dog bites. They’re more likely to be bitten on the head, face, or neck than adults.
Thankfully, most injuries aren’t severe and require only minor dog bite treatment. However, because dogs carry different bacteria in their mouths, infection is a serious concern. Let’s take a closer look at what you should do after a dog bite, when to get medical attention, and what treatment options are available.
What to do if a dog bites you
If you’re bitten by a dog, the most important thing is to go to a safe place away from the dog that bit you. After this, you should start with local wound care. Here are some steps you should take to manage dog attack wounds at home:
Step 1: Look at the wound to see if the skin is broken or not.
Step 2: Wash the wound with mild soap and warm water for 10 to 15 minutes. If the wound is very dirty, you should spend more time on this step.
Step 3: Stop the bleeding by putting pressure on the wound with a clean cloth until it stops.
Step 4: Apply antibiotic ointment if available. This may decrease the risk of infection.
Step 5: Cover the wound with a clean dry bandage, then place a bulky dressing over it. You’ll want to wrap the wound if the dog bite is on an arm or a leg.
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What to do after cleaning a dog bite?
After you’ve performed basic first aid of your wound, consider getting medical attention if necessary (more on this below). But first, gather information about the dog.
If you can, find out information, such as:
Who owns the dog? Is it your dog, a dog of someone you know, or a stray dog?
Are the dog’s vaccines up-to-date?
Can someone observe the dog for several days after the bite and watch for signs of rabies?
Other important details include:
Day and time of the injury
The location of the bite(s)
The force of the bite (forceful bites from large dogs can cause deeper damage)
Your medical history
Your last tetanus shot
These details are important to a healthcare professional after a dog bite. They help them to determine:
How to treat your wound
If your wound is at high risk for infection
If you need antibiotics or further evaluation
If you’re at risk for rabies
When to see a medical professional for a dog bite
Many dog bites can be cared for at home. But you should err on the side of caution. In general, you should get care for all dog bites, especially ones that break the skin. You’ll want to visit a medical professional if the wound is:
Large or deep
On the head, face, neck, genitals, hands, or feet
Bleeding profusely
Extremely painful
Very swollen, bruised, or deformed
You should also get help if you see something stuck in the wound or if you’re having trouble moving your joints, fingers, or toes. This could be signs of a tendon or muscle injury.
How to prevent an infection from a dog bite
Up to 20% of dog bites will lead to an infection. Dogs, like all mammals, have lots of bacteria in their mouths that can cause infection.
Risk factors for infection
There are some factors that increase the risk of infection, such as:
Location of the bite: Dog bites on the hands, feet, and genitals are most prone to lead to infection. This is because these areas have many layers and compartments that can trap bacteria.
Medical conditions: Conditions like diabetes, heart disease, or a weakened immune system can affect your body’s ability to heal wounds and fight infection.
Waiting too long to clean the wound: Not cleaning your wound quickly enough can also raise the risk of infection.
Puncture wound or a crush injury: Severe injuries from the dog bite can increase the risk.
Closing the wound with stitches: Infection is more likely after wound closure, especially if the wound is more than 8 to 12 hours old (or 24 hours on the face). It’s best to keep a dog bite open (if possible) so the wound can drain.
In general, bites on the face usually heal well and without infection. This is because the blood supply to the face is very good.
Dog bite infection symptoms
Dog bites can take 1 or more days to show signs of infection. It’s important to recheck your wound in 24 to 48 hours for any signs of infection. If you notice any of these signs or symptoms, get medical attention right away:
Swelling
Fever
Increasing pain
Redness
Pus drainage
What treatment and medical care will I receive for my dog bite?
When you get dog bite treatment, your wound will be thoroughly cleaned with pressurized water, saline, or an antimicrobial cleanser like povidone iodine. Your wound will be inspected for any soil or particles — like teeth from the dog.
Depending on the location and size of the wound, a healthcare professional may order X-rays too. X-rays will show if there are any broken bones.
Dog bites are often kept open (not closed with stitches) to help the wound drain and avoid infection. That said, a healthcare professional may close the wound with stitches, depending on the size and location.
Do you need a tetanus shot for a dog bite?
Tetanus shots are updated every 10 years, but a healthcare professional may update yours sooner if the wound is very severe or dirty. Tetanus is an infection that causes severe muscle spasms (including “lockjaw”), difficulty breathing, and seizures.
It’s caused by bacteria called Clostridium tetani, which is found in soil, dust, or a contaminated object. The bacteria causing tetanus can be in a dog’s mouth if they’ve been playing with soil or dirt. If your wound is full of soil and dirt, it’s important that your tetanus shot is up-to-date.
Dog bite antibiotics and medications
You may be prescribed oral antibiotics like amoxicillin / clavulanic acid (Augmentin) if there’s a high risk of infection. This is usually the first-choice treatment. Other antibiotics that a healthcare professional may use based on your medical history include:
Do I need medical care for a bite if the dog is up-to-date with its rabies shot?
If your bite is from a dog with a rabies shot that’s up-to-date, that’s very good news. But you should still consider a medical evaluation, especially if your skin is broken.
Rabies is a fatal disease caused by a virus that’s spread to humans from a bite or scratch from an infected animal. The rabies virus attacks the brain and nervous system. In the U.S., rabies is rarely found in house pets like dogs and cats because of widespread vaccinations. It’s more commonly found in wild mammals like bats, raccoons, skunks, and foxes.
Though extremely rare, a vaccinated dog can still be infected if they’re bitten by or contact the saliva or brain tissue of a wild animal with rabies. Because of this small risk, it’s still important for the dog who bit you to be quarantined and observed for at least 10 days for any signs of getting sick. Once rabies is in the saliva of an animal, the animal will show signs of rabies or die within 10 days.
Be sure to get care and discuss your treatment options for rabies if you were bitten by a dog that:
Is a stray
Doesn’t have an up-to-date rabies vaccine (or you aren’t sure)
Looks sick or acts strangely or aggressively
Cannot be kept and observed for at least 10 days for signs of rabies
Frequently asked questions
It’s possible to get sepsis from a dog bite, but it’s rare. This is more likely to happen if your wound is infected with Capnocytophaga canimorsus — a bacteria that can cause serious and even fatal complications in people with weakened immune systems. If you have a condition or take medications that affect your immune system, you should always seek medical care after a dog bite.
Dog bites aren’t closed with stitches to help the wound drain. This helps to avoid a wound infection. But sometimes a healthcare professional may use stitches, depending on the size and location of the wound.
It’s possible to get sepsis from a dog bite, but it’s rare. This is more likely to happen if your wound is infected with Capnocytophaga canimorsus — a bacteria that can cause serious and even fatal complications in people with weakened immune systems. If you have a condition or take medications that affect your immune system, you should always seek medical care after a dog bite.
Dog bites aren’t closed with stitches to help the wound drain. This helps to avoid a wound infection. But sometimes a healthcare professional may use stitches, depending on the size and location of the wound.
The bottom line
Most dog bite injuries are minor, and local wound care is the best first step to treating them and preventing infection. It’s important to gather information about the dog and what happened. This information along with your medical history can help a healthcare professional decide on treatments, such as tetanus vaccine updates and antibiotics.
Though rabies is a common concern for people after a dog bite, it’s an extremely rare complication of dog bites in the U.S.
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References
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