Essential Steps to Take After a Dog Bite
Dog Biting is very normal in all part of societies. If a dog bites someone, take immediate action. This can help prevent infection and potentially save a life. Quick response is crucial, especially if the bite is severe or the dog is suspected to be rabid. Here’s what to do step by step:
🆘 Emergency Steps to Take After a Dog Bite
1. Ensure Safety
- Get away from the dog to prevent more bites.
- Avoid panicking, but act quickly.
2. Assess the Wound
- Minor bite (no deep bleeding): Often manageable at home.
- Deep bite, torn skin, heavy bleeding, or bite on face/neck/hands/genitals: Requires urgent medical care.
3. Stop the Bleeding
- Apply gentle pressure with a clean cloth or gauze.
- Elevate the area if possible.
4. Clean the Wound Immediately
- Wash the area with mild soap and lots of running water for 5–10 minutes.
- Use antiseptic like iodine or hydrogen peroxide if available (but not inside deep wounds).
5. Apply a Clean Dressing
- Use a sterile bandage or clean cloth.
- Avoid closing deep wounds tightly; let air flow until evaluated by a doctor.
💉 Medical Attention: When and Why
Seek Medical Attention Immediately If:
- The wound is deep, bleeding heavily, or shows signs of damage.
- The dog is unknown, wild, or non vaccinated.
- You haven’t had a tetanus shot in the past 5–10 years.
- The bite is on the face, hands, feet, or genitals.
- Signs of infection (swelling, redness, pus, warmth, fever) develop.
- You are immunocompromised.
🦠Rabies Risk: A Life-Threatening Concern
- Rabies is fatal once symptoms appear.
- If the dog is unknown or unvaccinated, go to the hospital for rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).
- If the dog can be observed for 10 days and shows no symptoms, PEP may not be necessary (but this decision should be made by a doctor).
💉 Vaccination Protocol (if needed)
- Tetanus Shot – within 48 hours if not up to date.
- Rabies Vaccine – 4 doses over 2 weeks.
- Rabies Immune Globulin (RIG) – if never vaccinated for rabies.
🚑 When to Call Emergency Services
Call emergency services if:
- The bleeding won’t stop.
- The person is unconscious or going into shock.
- There are signs of a severe allergic reaction or difficulty breathing.
