WHAT CARE TO BE TAKEN WHEN A DOG BITES

WHAT CARE TO BE TAKEN WHEN A DOG BITES

They may be our best friends, but dogs are still animals and they can bite... One out of every five of those bites causes an injury that requires medical attention,At a certain stage, puppies bite. It’s what they do, first when they’re teething, and then later as they try to establish dominance,  he first is to remain calm. A nip from a puppy may hurt, but the less you react to it, the less importance your puppy will attach to it.Second, in order to break your puppy of this habit, you need to learn the signs of when she is about to nip, then correct her with a quick pinch on the scruff just before she decides to do it. This will redirect her from her instinct to bite, and eventually teach her not to do so.Follow the general procedures, and then look at the causes of the bite. If it happened during a dogfight, then it was most likely accidental — your dog was in an aggressive zone and you were in the wrong place — so it was nothing personal, and you probably don’t have to worry about your dog suddenly biting you again.

Here are some dog bite facts :- Dog bites account for more than 90% of all animal bites. 4.5 million dog bites occur each year in the U.S., and more than 27,000 victims require reconstructive surgery.

• Injuries may involve structures deep beneath the skin including muscles, bones, nerves, and blood vessels.

    Skin repair increases the risk of infection, and the decision to suture the skin balances the risk of infection versus the benefit of a better appearing scar

Wounds should be kept elevated and, if possible, washing the wound with tap water may be attempted.Medical care should be accessed if the dog bite disrupts the skin causing a puncture, laceration, or tear. As well, if there is pain at or near the injury site, underlying structures may have been damaged and medical care may be needed.

How should we  treat a minor dog bite?

If you or someone you know is bitten by a dog, more than likely it will be a minor bite that can be treated at home by following these steps:

• Clean the wound immediately: run it under warm water for a few minutes to ensure it is thoroughly cleaned.
• Encourage bleeding from the wound: if it is not already bleeding, gently squeeze the wound to encourage it to bleed, which will help prevent bacteria entering the wound.
• Provide pain relief: take over-the-counter painkillers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen to reduce pain and inflammation.

Because there is a risk of infection the NHS also recommends seeking medical advice for a dog bite, unless it's a very minor one.

Rinse bite wounds, if possible, and cover with a sterile dressing. Tap water has been shown to be as effective for irrigation as sterile saline.