The most faithful animal and a person’s best friend is commonly referred to as a dog. Although dogs are generally friendly in nature, some of them occasionally become aggressive and bite someone. A dog bite can spread pathogens that infect humans by reaching their tissues in the body. Dog bite infections can be brought by bacteria like Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, and Pasteurella. Dogs are known to become angry and unfriendly towards humans when people even bother them when they are eating or teasing them.
Things You Should do when a Street Dog Bite
If you are bitten by a street or a dog of your relative, then what actions should you take at that time and what kind of medical treatment is there after that?
A lot of people say that there are 14 injections for a dog bite, so what happens in reality, we will focus on all these.
What should you do if you get a dog bite? Out of all the dog bite cases, most of them are street dogs. There are very few dogs that are pets and bite people, but if the dog is very aggressive then such cases can happen.
Steps to taken if there is a minor Injuries from Dog Bite
Based on the different sorts of wounds a few first-aid steps to take after being bitten by a dog. If a dog bite caused minor injuries like scratches or bruises or discolored skin due to bite, then:
- So at that time, whether you are in the house or outside, you should wash that wound well, and keep washing it for about 15 minutes so that the virus and germs get removed.
- Wash the wound thoroughly with soap or antiseptic if possible, because all the bacteria in the dog’s saliva can go into your body, so it is better to clean it well.
- To reduce the risk of bacterial infection from exposed wounds, apply an antiseptic/antibacterial cream or lotion.
- After that, leave the wound uncovered rather than covering it with a piece of cloth so that it can air dry so that water does not remain in it.
- To avoid complications, see a doctor right away. (within the first 24 hours of being bitten by a dog) After this, you can get a tetanus injection.
Steps to taken if there is a major Injuries From Dog Bite
If you have deep wounds, especially bleeding or exposed flesh, do the following:
- To stop bleeding, press firmly against the wound using a clean, dry cloth.
- If there is no bleeding, wash the wound with soap and water.
- If you feel weak or like you could faint, seek immediate medical attention.
- Visit a hospital if the bleeding does not stop or if you see redness and swelling in the affected area.
When should you see a doctor?
It is time to seek medical attention if the person is bleeding continuously. To avoid seriousness, keep an eye out for the following signs as well.
- If you have been bleeding heavily for the previous 20 minutes.
- If the layer of your skin has been broken by a dog bite. To stop the disease from spreading, you might need a tetanus vaccine in this situation.
- If a stray or wild dog bites you.
- If the bite person has a weak immune system or has had long-term sickness.
- If you detect any infection-related symptoms, such as redness, swelling, or warmth.
Side Effects of Dog Bite
There is a greater chance of illness from bites on the hands or feet. Certain illnesses from dog bites can be highly harmful and result in negative effects. These infections can be lethal if not treated.
- People who get a Capnocytophaga infection after being bitten by a dog may bleed from the wound fever vomiting and diarrhea headaches, joint pain, surrounding the wound redness, swelling, and pain around the wound seeping from the wound.
- People who are bitten by a dog that has rabies may contract the disease. They may have weakness, a headache, a fever, and other flu-like symptoms, itching or prickling sensations near the bite. If a person with rabies is not treated, he will die. If a person suspects that the dog that bit them may have rabies, they should visit their doctor right once. The infection may be treated with rabies vaccination after exposure.
- Tetanus bacteria can enter the body by a dog bite. They may have infections like muscle spasms, usually in the stomach, cramping in the jaw, difficulties swallowing, and stiffness in the muscles. A dangerous infection is a tetanus. Any sign of tetanus requires rapid medical treatment. They will need to take prescriptions, like antibiotics, and get a tetanus shot.
- Animal bites that would go untreated occasionally cause sepsis. Sepsis symptoms include body temperature extremes and significant discomfort or pain. One should get medical help right away if one think they may have sepsis. A doctor will provide blood products and medications to treat sepsis.
Also read: Best Dog Food For Allergies
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Conclusion
Untreated dog bites can cause serious problems and are scary. It’s important to get medical attention right away if you notice any infection symptoms because bacterial infections are a very common side effect of dog bites. Your best line of defense against dog bites and the difficulties they can cause is rabies vaccination for your own dog and avoiding dogs you don’t know. No matter how cute a dog may seem, never approach a dog you don’t know.
Additionally, stop playing rough with dogs, even those you are familiar with. Additionally, it makes sense to leave sleeping dogs to rest and never to bother a dog who is feeding or taking care of puppies.
Also Read: When to Vaccinate Your Cat and Dog
