When we hear the word dogs — we think of a loyal friend who has much affection for his owner and the other members of the family. Dogs are the most beautiful creatures and a loyal pet. Sometimes we hear a lot about dog bites; the severity is marked under the wound, and it brutally peels the skin.
When you have been bitten by your dog or someone else you feel a bit shaken and need urgent first aid for a dog bite to reduce the chances of getting a bacterial infection.
Read this blog to get the right information regarding first aid on a dog bite and maintain distance from aggressive dogs.
Ask For Dog’s Vaccination
While going to the hospital make aware of the dog’s vaccination history by asking the owner. That will give a doctor an idea about the seriousness and the chances of getting the history and you will get the proper first aid on a dog bite.
But if the dog is stray and there is no history of vaccination then the case might be serious and you only need to focus on the medical assistance if the wound is bleeding let it bleed as it will reduce the chances of bacterial infection and you also wash the wound with the warm water and put some polyvinylpyrrolidone on the wound and wash the wound. If the wound is bleeding let it bleed do not put mud, or dirty clothes on the wound as it can cause severe infection if not cleaned.
Applying First Aid On A Dog Bite
Before applying first aid to the dog bite first check the severity of the wound if it becomes
- Red
- Swollen
- Warm
- Tender to the touch
If you are in pain or have a fever, get medical assistance immediately. The thing is that if you are bitten by the puppy you might get scratched on the skin but the case is the opposite when the dog is an adult so it’s biting power and the jaw muscles are fully mature so he could bite you severely.
There are certain cases when there is no more time to waste than seeing a doctor after a dog bite.
- When the dog is pouring foam from its mouth
- Brutally peeled your skin off (bones are clear, tendons are torn)
- Broken bone
- Blood flow is not slowing down
These are the cases where you need quick medical assistance if a stray dog bites you there is a high chance that the dog suffers from the rabies virus. Most of the time the patient survives but this is due to abrupt medical assistance as the virus directly attacks your nervous system and if not cured properly may cause death.
Treatment For Dog Bite
- Wash your wound with warm water and if the wound is not severe wash it with soap
- If blood flow does not stop take a clean cloth and apply some pressure on the wound
- Apply antibacterial lotion or ointment to the wound.
- Cover the wound with sterile gauze or bandage for additional protection.
- You must not apply a bandage but also seek the signs if your wound is not getting infected
- Seek help if there is a sign of pus formation, or swelling across the wound.
Final Thought
You must be aware of the dog gestures. The guide about “first aid on a dog bite” covers all the important aspects of treatments. If your neighbor has friendly dogs, beware of their aggressive behavior. There is a proper gesture when the dog is in the attacking mode. If you see an attacking dog do not run, watch directly into his eyes, grab a stick or stone but do not throw until the dog attacks.
I hope you are well aware of the guide on first aid on a dog bite and also the symptoms of infection. Stay safe and avoid aggressive dogs.