6 First aid for a dog bite. if the infection recurs, the most important one is tetanus vaccination

What to do if your dog bites you and breaks the skin?

A dog bite is one of the things that anyone may be exposed to, it may happen accidentally if you play with your dog or even if you are walking on the street you may get bitten by the dog without warning, and in either case, there are steps you need to take immediately to treat the wound and reduce the risk Infection, in this report we learn about the most important first aid that must be taken if you are exposed to a dog bite.

The front teeth of a dog grasp and compress your tissues, and their smaller teeth can also tear your skin, and the result is an open serrated wound, so if the wound is infected, it is often severe.

The primary problem with a dog’s bite is infection and it may need hospitalization and intravenous antibiotics.

I would like to explain that regardless of the cause, be sure to see the doctor within 8 hours of the dog’s bite, as waiting for a longer period raises the risk of infection, and if you suffer from diabetes or suffer from immunodeficiency, the risk of infection is greater.

6 steps to treat a dog bite

If a dog bites you, follow these steps immediately:

  1. Wash the wound, use a mild soap, and run warm tap water over it for 5-10 minutes.
  2. Slow bleeding with a clean cloth.
  3. Apply an over-the-counter antibiotic cream if you have it.
  4. Wrap the wound in a sterile pad and see your doctor.
  5. Change the bandage several times a day once your doctor examines the wound.
  6. Watch for signs of infection, including redness, swelling, increased pain and fever.

It is also likely that the doctor will clean the wound again, apply an antibiotic ointment and prescribe antibiotics, if there is concern about infection.

Depending on the wound, the doctor may also recommend stitches. In general, dog wounds are left open to heal unless they are on the face or if they may leave severe scars especially if left untreated.

The bacteria from a dog bite raises the risk of infection

Approximately 50% of dog bites enter bacteria, including staphylococcus and streptococcus pasteurization, as well as sooty bacteria.

Unvaccinated and ferocious dogs can carry and transmit rabies.

Taking care of a dog bite wound is about preventing bacteria from causing infection.

How to Stop the wound from bleeding? concluding

  1. Apply direct pressure on the cut or wound with a clean cloth, tissue, or piece of gauze until bleeding stops.
  2. If blood soaks through the material, don’t remove it. …
  3. If the wound is on the arm or leg, raise limb above the heart, if possible, to help slow bleeding.

How to Wash the wound?

5 to 10 minutes washing under water tap or by soaking a pad in saline solution, or using alcohol-free wipe, no need to antiseptic for open wounds as they can damage skin tissues.

How to Apply an antibacterial ointment to the wound?

Neosporin is an over-the-counter (OTC) triple-antibiotic ointment containing three separate antibacterial agents: neomycin, bacitracin, and polymyxin. 2 Triple-antibiotic ointments are commonly used on minor wounds and abrasions to prevent infection and encourage healing.

If I bitten by a dog do, I need a tetanus?

The reason for taking the tetanus vaccine is the exposure of the bite to mud and soil, and as it is not possible to prevent the dog’s bite site from contamination. Therefore, tetanus vaccine should be taken immediately. Or, an analysis can be done to find out about tetanus infection in advance.

If tetanus prophylaxis is indicated, an appropriate tetanus-containing vaccine (Tdap, DTaP, DT) must be administered based on the age and vaccination history.

After any bite, you must make sure that you know when the last dose of tetanus vaccination you received was, although tetanus vaccination is good for 10 years, your doctor may recommend another dose if the wound is dirty and more than 5 years have passed since the last Vaccination dose.

What is the lump under skin after a dog bite?

Commonly occurring on the face, legs and base of the tail, a bite-wound abscess usually presents as a painful, fluid-filled lump under the skin. Owners may observe a small scab over a puncture wound near the lump, but sometimes an abscess is not noticed until it breaks through the skin and oozes pus.

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