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What To Do If You've Been Bitten by a Dog?

If all the animal bites are concerned, dog bites make it around ninety percent of them. Roughly around 4.5 million dog bites are registered annually in the U.S alone out of which more than around 27,000 victims have to undergo reconstructive surgery. There are various injuries and infections caused by dog bites such as tetanus and rabies. There are various reasons due to which a dog bite can happen. A puppy in the nipping stage can even bite you and a stranger dog roaming on the street too. There are several things that you should do after you have been bitten by a dog. There are many steps to go through after being bitten by a dog but it also depends upon the severity and circumstances of the injury. If you were surfing the internet for this reason then this article has got you covered. This article will guide you through what to do if you have been bitten by a dog.

Superficial Wounds

If the wound is superficial then it should be immediately cleaned with running water along with hydrogen peroxide or even isopropyl alcohol. After cleaning the wound properly one should apply a topical antibiotic and then cover with the bandage. If the situation and condition worsen then you should immediately contact the doctor or a dog bite lawyer for recommendation and treatment.

Puncture Wounds

When you are bitten by a dog, it is of surprise that you bleed. One should not be afraid to let the whole wound bleed. One should let the blood bleed until unless you have lost a lot of blood or when it is gushing out of sensitive parts such as the neck or head. The blood flowing out of the wound would do nothing but cleanse it. One should apply direct pressure after five minutes to see if he can stop the bleeding. If it does stop then one should cleanse by rinsing it under running water along with mild soap or should call a dog bite lawyer for emergency help for better consultation if the bleeding doesn't stop.

One should keep in mind that one should not use iodine, hydrogen peroxide, or rubbing alcohol for puncture wounds. These would be of no good and instead slow down the healing process. Puncture wounds don't require a need for a bandaged. Though many people opt for the bandage and if you also want to opt for it then you should make sure that the wound is properly and thoroughly cleaned first. Fortunately, as far as dog bites are concerned, they don't need any objects such as debris on the wounds which need to be removed later.

Disease and Rabies

If one is bitten by an unknown dog then he should not attempt to catch or stop the animal but should instead contact a dog bite lawyer and animal control as soon as possible. After calling them, you can continue with the rabies vaccinations by calling 911. If the dog that has bitten you seems a bit strange, partially paralyzed, acts aggressively then there might be the chance that the dog may be rabid. In the end, one should not forget to disinfect and clean the wound thoroughly as animal bites can cause infection by transmitting bacteria.


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