Preventing Infections from Dog Bites: Tips for Avoiding Health Complications

If you suffer a bite from someone else’s dog, one of the most serious health consequences is the threat of infection. When a dog attacks, they mash and tear the flesh, leaving it especially prone to infection, and the bacteria harbored in a dog’s mouth can be the direct cause of a serious infection.  If you are worried about infections from dog bites after being bitten by someone else’s dog, it is crucial to promptly seek medical care to safeguard your health and future well-being. Following this, obtaining expert legal advice from an experienced New Jersey dog bite lawyer is a vital step to take.

Staying Safe around Dogs: Strategies for Preventing Infections from Bites

The first method for protecting yourself from infections caused by dog bites is taking every precaution to avoid aggressive dogs in the first place. Caution can only go so far, however, as dogs can still bite the most careful people.  If a dog’s already bitten you, it’s time to take precautionary measures that are focused on preventing infections.  The Mayo Clinic advises anyone who’s suffered a dog bite that does no damage beyond breaking the skin to carefully wash the bite with soap and warm water, apply an antibiotic treatment, and cover the wound with a clean bandage. At this point, It’s important to watch the wound for any signs of worsening or infection.  

Prompt Medical Attention  

The Mayo Clinic further reports that if any of the following apply to your dog bite wound, you should not wait to seek medical attention:

• You’re not sure how serious the bite is.
• The dog bite wound leaves a deep puncture. 
• Your skin is torn badly or is bleeding a significant amount. If it is bleeding, take immediate action by using a clean cloth or bandage to apply the pressure necessary to stop or curb the bleeding prior to obtaining medical care.
• You realize that the swelling, pain, oozing, or redness in the affected area is increasing. Each of these is a clear warning sign of infection. 
• You have no way of knowing whether or not the dog is vaccinated for rabies.

Tetanus Shot  

Another matter you should concern yourself with after a dog bite is how recent your last tetanus booster was. If it’s been about 10 years since your booster or the dog bite wound is either dirty or deep, it may be time for a booster, which you should discuss with a medical professional.   

Bite Prevention 101: How to Reduce Your Risk of Infection from Dog Attacks

When it comes to dog bites, an ounce of prevention really is worth a pound of cure, and there are some important steps you can take to protect yourself and your children. 

The Statistics  

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) reports that dog bites pose a very real health threat to our communities. Consider the following statistics shared:  

• Every year in this country, more than 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs.
• Of these, more than 800,000 people require medical attention. 
• At least half of all those bitten by dogs are children, and children are far more likely to be seriously injured.  
• About 1 in 5 of those who suffer dog bites require medical intervention. 

Bite Prevention Tips  

There are a range of basic tips that can help you protect yourself and your children from serious dog bite injuries. 

Know Why Dogs Bite

Many people mistakenly believe that a dog who is friendly when they first meet will always be friendly, but this simply isn’t the case. Any of the following can make a dog more likely to bite:

• The dog is feeling stressed by the situation.
• The dog is defending its territory or itself.
• The dog’s been startled, is scared, or feels threatened.
• The dog is attempting to protect something important to them, such as their puppies, a toy, a bone, or their food. 
• The dog isn’t feeling well because it is injured, sick, or sore and wants to be left alone.

Sometimes harmless play with a dog can turn into a bite, which is a form of play on the part of the dog but can harm the person who is bitten in the process. 

Educate Yourself and Your Children  

Some safety pointers related to being around dogs that you and your children should know and follow include:

• Always treat dogs with respect and never force yourself on them. 
• Never run up to a dog – even if it’s leashed and with its owner. Instead, always approach dogs in a calm, controlled manner. 
• If you want to pet a dog that isn’t your own, you need permission from its owner, and it should be leashed at the time you pet it. 
• Never approach a dog that you don’t know, and if you come across one that is not well supervised, consider leaving the area and alerting animal control. 
• If you’re confronted by an aggressive dog, backing away slowly and in a controlled manner – without making eye contact – is the way to go. 
• Never tease a dog. 
• Leave sleeping dogs and dogs that are eating alone. 
• Recognize the signs of a dog’s aggression, including baring their teeth, wrinkling their muzzle, growling, tensing their lips and facial muscles, freezing up and holding their breath, holding a hard and direct stare, or holding their tail up and in place.

Some dogs give plenty of warning before they attack, and others give very little. This is why knowing the tell-tale signs of aggression is important and why proceeding with caution is advised. The best course of action is taking whatever precautions you deem necessary whenever a dog makes you feel uncomfortable, and erring on the side of caution is always in your best interest.  

Don’t Let a Bite Turn into a Nightmare: Tips for Minimizing the Health Risks of Dog Bites

When it comes to protecting yourself from dog bites and minimizing the associated health risks, all the following are essential:

• Know the warning signs of aggression and take them seriously.
• Proceed with caution whenever you’re around a dog you don’t know or don’t know well. 
• Remember that any dog can become aggressive in the right situation and avoid these situations.
• If you recognize a dangerous situation involving a dog, do what you can to avoid it and alert animal control.
• Always employ hypervigilance whenever your children are near dogs that they’re not familiar with.

The best way to avoid a bite becoming a nightmare is naturally by avoiding the attack in the first place, but if you’ve already been bitten, taking immediate action can make a significant difference in your health outcome. 

The Basics of Avoiding Infections from Dog Bites: Essential Precautions for Staying Healthy

The basics when it comes to avoiding infections from dog bites break down into three primary elements. 

Exercise Healthy Caution

The first order of business is avoiding risky situations from the start and remembering that dogs are unpredictable, which means a dog who has been friendly in the past may not be as friendly the next time you meet. Your first and best line of defense is exercising healthy caution when it comes to dogs in general. 

Clean the Wound and Stop the Bleeding

If someone else’s dog does bite you, it’s important to figure out how serious the wound is. If the only damage is a small area where the animal broke your skin, you should cleanse the wound with soap and water, apply a topical antibiotic cream that you cover with a bandage, and watch for any signs of worsening.  If the wound is more serious, heading directly to urgent care, the ER, or your primary provider is the best course of action. If the wound is bleeding heavily, staunching the flow with a clean towel or cloth before seeking medical attention is advised. 

Obtain the Medical Attention that You Need

If your wound is more serious than broken skin, the best way to avoid serious infection is by obtaining immediate medical attention. Your attending medical professional will thoroughly clean the wound, assess the related damage, and devise the right care plan for you. Taking antibiotics as a precautionary measure to ward off serious infection may be advised.  If your wounds are very serious, you could be looking at surgery and ongoing healthcare needs. Dogs often attack the hands, face, or calves, and these are especially vulnerable to injuries that require extensive care and lengthy recoveries. 

Discuss Your Claim with an Experienced New Jersey Dog Bite Lawyer Today

A dog bite can happen in an instant and turn your world upside down. Always seek the help you need – both medical and legal.  David J. Cowhey is a dedicated dog bite attorney at The New Jersey Dog Bite Lawyer whose entire impressive practice focuses on helping dog bite victims like you obtain just compensation that supports their fullest recoveries. We are on your side and here to help, so please reach out to us through our online form or call us at (866) 259-4377 today.