Dog bites may be due to an overly aggressive dog or may be an accident happening during play time. Dog bites can be treated and if the treatment is applied in a timely manner, it will prevent possible infections. The wound should be cleaned immediately, as the canine saliva may contain numerous infectious agents that can lead to complications.
Dog Bite First Aid
If you get bitten by a dog, the very first thing you need to do is to clean the bite. The bacteria in the dog’s saliva may spread quickly and enter the blood flow.
Place the wound under cold, running water and keep it there for 5 minutes.
Get a sterile syringe without a needle and fill it with hydroxide peroxide. Sprinkle the bite wound and make sure to cover the entire area that is affected.
Get a clean towel and pat the area dry.
These first aid essentials must be applied even if the bite is superficial and bleeding is not present.
Apply Antibiotic Cream
An over the counter antibiotic cream should be applied after the wound is cleaned and dry. Apply the cream generously and don’t massage the wound, as you may facilitate the bacteria from the dog’s saliva to enter in your system.
The antibiotic cream can be beneficial, regardless if the wound is infected or not.
After the cream is absorbed, the bite should be bandaged. Even if the wound should heal faster when in contact with air, the wound may be exposed to various environmental factors that could facilitate an infection.
Oral antibiotic treatment will be required if an infection occurs or if the wound is deep and bleeding is present. These will be prescribed by a physician.
Identify an Infection
A bite may get infected. In fact, over 50% of bites get infected within 2 days of the bite. You should recognize the signs of infection:
- Elevated fever
- Severe swelling of the wound
- A film of pus in the wound area
- Foul odor coming from the wound
The wound may be painful, but if it gets infected, the pain will be amplified.
Treat the Dog Bite Naturally
Natural remedies may be used as an alternative to conventional treatments. If you have an allergic reaction to antibiotics, or would like to avoid the antibiotics side effects, you can choose a natural treatment.
Instead of applying an antibiotic treatment, grate some organic carrots and leave them on the bite wound for 10 to 20 minutes. Carrots can absorb the toxins and bacteria and facilitate the healing of the bite wound.
Clay can work in the same way carrots do. Get some sterile clay from a health store.
Get the Rabies Shot
If you don’t know the dog that bit you or he hasn’t been vaccinated, you will have to get a rabies shot. However, if you have been vaccinated against rabies in the last 5 years, you don’t need to get a new shot.