When to See a Doctor after a Dog Bite

More than 48 million households in the United States own dogs, and many of us encounter dogs on a regular basis. Unfortunately, this also means that millions of people are bitten by dogs each year across the country. Dog bite injuries can vary widely, and many people debate whether they should seek medical attention for their injuries or whether first aid treatment at home will be sufficient.

Things to Watch For

Not every dog bite requires a trip to the doctor, urgent care, or emergency room. However, it is important not to ignore signs that your dog bite wounds require professional attention and care. Some of these signs include:

• The bite resulted in a puncture wound or anything beyond a surface wound
• You feel pain and suspect the bite affected your soft tissue, bones, or nerves
• The bite is on or around your face
• The wound will not stop bleeding after you apply pressure for 15 minutes or longer
• You have not received a tetanus shot in the past five years
• You have immune system deficiencies, diabetes, or similar conditions
• You do not know the dog who bit you or are otherwise unsure whether the dog was vaccinated against rabies and other diseases
• Your wound swells, expresses pus, has increased redness or warmth, or gets worse instead of healing

It is always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to dog bite treatment. If you have any concerns at all, you should not hesitate to seek medical help.

Infection Prevention

One of the major risks of a dog bite is infection. A dog’s teeth can dig deeper beneath your skin than you might think, and at-home treatment might not properly clean the wound all the way down. The surface of the wound might even heal, trapping bacteria under your skin. This can lead to an infected wound, even if you cannot see the signs of infection. If your wound goes below the skin, having a medical professional clean your wound can help ensure you do not have dangerous bacteria trapped in your wound.

In addition, if you are bitten by an unfamiliar dog, there is the chance that the dog might have rabies if they were not properly vaccinated. Rabies can transfer to humans, but there might not be signs of rabies for weeks or months following a bite. Once a person begins showing clinical signs of rabies, the disease is nearly always fatal. This is why it is critical to get immediate medical attention and prophylactic treatment if the animal who bit you might have rabies.

Seeking Legal Help

Medical bills for dog bite wounds can add up fast, especially if your treatment required surgery or rabies prevention. In California, you can hold dog owners liable for injuries caused by dog bites, and you should not wait to discuss your legal options with an experienced Tustin dog bite attorney. Get both the medical and legal help you need following a dog bite.