subject: How To Treat A Dog Bite [print this page] Being predators, dogs uses their strong teeth that can deliver about 450 lbs per square inch pressure when they attack. When a dog bites, the sharp teeth will sink in the flesh, the strong jaws will lock creating either deep puncture wounds or serious lacerations. A dog's teeth and jaws are very powerful so that if the teeth has latched on a limb and cause serious injuries, the victim's mobility can be impaired for life. A serious dog bite can even kill a person. Wounds are not the only concerns of dog bite victims because when the teeth puncture the flesh infection and disease-causing bacteria are injected on the puncture wounds as well. One of the life threatening consequences of dog bite is rabies.
Dog bite is one of the downsides of humans close association with dogs. Children and dogs form a close bond but children are the ones commonly bitten by their own dogs. How do you treat a dog bite?
First aid must be administered on dog bite wounds to prevent infection but treatment must not be started until the dog is removed to prevent further attacks. Dog bites can create two types of wounds - deep puncture wounds and lacerations. Because bacteria is injected when the dog sinks the teeth to the flesh, it is common for puncture wounds to get infected. Dog bites can result to serious skin lacerations.
Profuse bleeding is not common in puncture wounds thus further bleeding must be allowed for a few minutes so that that bacteria injected by the dog's teeth will be removed from the wound. Heavy bleeding is common in dog bites that have created skin lacerations. Bleeding has to be stemmed by applying direct pressure on the wound. Thorough cleaning is necessary for both types of wounds to prevent infection.
Dog bites can cause skin lacerations that need to be sutured but before taking the victim to a medical facility the bite wound must be cleaned thoroughly as bacteria allowed to stay inside the skin for several hours will have an opportunity to cause infection. The risk of infection can be minimized by washing the bite wound with an antibacterial soap for about five minutes. Apply antibiotic ointment and cover with sterile gauze. A dog bite victim will be in pain. Ice compress applied on the bite wound would reduce the swelling and also lessen the pain.
Dog bite victims will always be concerned with rabies more so if the dog's immunization status is not verified. Dog bite victims of stray dogs with an unknown rabies immunization status have to undergo rabies immunization therapy .
