When to See a Doctor After a Dog Bite

Most dog bites are minor, but some need a doctor the same day, and a few need care within hours to prevent infection, tetanus or rabies. The CDC says nearly 1 in 5 people bitten by a dog needs medical attention. Here’s how to tell which group your bite is in, what the doctor will do, and how to report the bite here in Tustin. If you or your child was bitten by someone else’s dog, you can also talk to me about a dog bite claim at no cost.

First aid right after the bite

Wash the bite right away with soap and water. For a minor wound, the CDC’s advice is to “wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water. Apply an antibiotic cream. Cover the wound with a clean bandage.” For a deep wound, apply pressure with a clean cloth to stop the bleeding and get medical attention right away.

Cleaning matters more than people think. The CDC’s rabies guidance says all treatment after a possible rabies exposure should begin with “immediate and thorough cleansing of all wounds with soap and water,” and that in animal studies cleaning alone markedly reduced the chance of rabies.

When to see a doctor

See a doctor or go to urgent care if any of these apply (based on the CDC’s dog bite guidance):

• The wound is deep, a puncture, or more than a surface scrape.
• The bleeding won’t stop, the pain is severe, or you can’t move the area normally. The CDC describes serious wounds as having “uncontrolled bleeding, extreme pain, and loss of function.”
• The bite is on the face.
• It has been more than 5 years since your last tetanus shot, or you don’t know.
• You don’t know the dog, or you don’t know whether it’s vaccinated against rabies.
• You have a weakened immune system, diabetes, no spleen, or take medicine that suppresses the immune system.
• The wound becomes red, swollen, warm or more painful, drains pus, or you get a fever. The CDC lists these as signs of infection.

Go to the emergency room or call 911 for heavy bleeding that pressure doesn’t control, a deep bite to the face or neck, or a mauling with multiple wounds.

Why dog bites get infected

A dog’s teeth push bacteria deep into the tissue. A puncture can close on the surface while bacteria stay trapped underneath, so a bite that looks small can still become infected. That’s why a deep bite should be cleaned and checked by a doctor.

One rare but serious infection comes from Capnocytophaga bacteria, which many dogs carry in their mouths. According to the CDC, people at higher risk include those with a weakened immune system (for example from cancer, diabetes or HIV), people on chemotherapy or other immune-suppressing drugs, people without a spleen, and people with alcohol use disorders. Symptoms usually appear within 14 days, and complications can include sepsis and kidney failure. If you’re in one of those groups, call your doctor after any bite.

Tetanus after a dog bite

Animal bites count as “dirty” wounds for tetanus purposes. The CDC’s tetanus guidance lists wounds containing saliva, including animal and human bites, with dirty and major wounds. For those, a booster is recommended if your last tetanus shot was 5 or more years ago. For a clean, minor wound, the threshold is 10 years. If you’ve never completed the tetanus series or don’t know, tell the doctor.

Rabies: how worried should you be?

Rabies in dogs is uncommon in the U.S., but it’s still taken seriously. The CDC says rabid dogs are uncommon here because of vaccination programs, and that most animal rabies cases are in wildlife. In California, bats and skunks account for nearly all reported cases.

The risk is low, not zero, and the stakes are high. Once symptoms of rabies appear, the CDC says the disease “is nearly always fatal.” Treatment after exposure (post-exposure prophylaxis, or PEP) is nearly 100% effective when given promptly. For someone never vaccinated, PEP is a dose of rabies immune globulin plus rabies vaccine on days 0, 3, 7 and 14.

That’s why the dog matters. If the owner is known and the dog can be observed, the doctor and the health officer may be able to rule out rabies without shots. If the dog ran off and can’t be found, talk to the doctor about PEP the same day.

What happens to the dog: the 10-day quarantine

In California, a dog that bites someone is normally observed for 10 days. State regulations require the local health officer to be notified when a person is bitten in a declared rabies area, and the biting dog is isolated and observed, for dogs and cats generally 10 days. Orange County is a declared rabies area.

The quarantine is usually done at the owner’s home or at the shelter. Observing the dog is how health officials rule rabies out, which is why identifying the dog matters so much.

How to report a dog bite in Tustin

Tustin bite reports go to OC Animal Care. The City of Tustin directs residents to “call Orange County Animal Care at 714-796-6421 or fill out their online form.” OC Animal Care takes calls Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and after hours at (714) 259-1122. For an emergency, call 911.

Under Orange County law, anyone who knows of a person bitten or scratched by a mammal must report it. Your doctor may report it as well, but don’t assume it’s been done. My guide to Tustin dog bite laws explains the reporting steps and who pays for the injuries.

Keep a record from the start

If someone else’s dog bit you, the medical record is also the evidence of your injury. It helps to:

• photograph the wound the day of the bite and as it heals, including any scarring
• get the owner’s name, address and phone number, and the dog’s description
• write down where and when it happened, and the names of any witnesses
• keep every bill, prescription and record of time off work
• follow up with your doctor if the wound changes, and go to every appointment

Dog bite medical care FAQs

Should I go to urgent care or the ER for a dog bite?

Urgent care is usually the right place for a bite that needs cleaning, a tetanus shot or antibiotics. Go to the ER for bleeding you can’t control, deep bites to the face or neck, or multiple serious wounds.

Do I need a tetanus shot after a dog bite?

The CDC treats bites as dirty wounds, so a booster is recommended if your last tetanus shot was 5 or more years ago.

How do I know if a dog bite is infected?

Watch for redness, swelling, warmth, pus or fever, which the CDC lists as signs of infection. Capnocytophaga symptoms usually appear within 14 days. Call your doctor if the wound gets worse instead of better.

Do I need rabies shots after a dog bite?

Not always. If the dog is known and can be observed for 10 days, rabies can usually be ruled out. If the dog can’t be found or its vaccination status is unknown, talk to a doctor about post-exposure treatment the same day.

Talk to a Tustin dog bite lawyer

In California, a dog’s owner is generally responsible when their dog bites someone in a public place or someone lawfully on private property, even if the dog never bit anyone before. If you were bitten in Tustin, call me at (714) 461-6003 or request a free consultation. You’ll work directly with me, and under my No Recovery, No Fee Guarantee you pay nothing unless I recover compensation for you. Learn more about how I handle dog bite cases in Tustin, or read my tips on preventing dog bites.