First aid for dog bites
Previously, adults warned children: “Do not touch the dog. Bite – get 40 shots in the stomach. ” These 40 shots turned out to be very tenacious – some are still sure that they will have to do it with a dog bite.
And although this is not the case, dog bites can have very serious consequences, including disability and death. True, this rarely happens. Nevertheless, it is necessary to know what to do and how to act if you or your loved ones were bitten by a dog. Then you can minimize serious complications.
What is dangerous dog bite
Bleeding, tissue damage
If a dog bites its teeth with a bite, but does not close them, a narrow but deep puncture wound occurs, from which blood is more or less intense.
If the dog simultaneously makes a jerk with his teeth, torn wounds occur. They can exfoliate, tear off skin, break muscles, damage arteries. This is a more serious injury.
The fighting dogs have very strong jaws.
Fight breed dogs with powerful jaws can even crush bones.
Wound suppuration
Pathogenic bacteria are present in canine saliva, which, once in the wound, begin to multiply. Damaged tissues become inflamed, pus appears. The wound hurts a lot. The temperature may rise. Usually, the suppuration of the wound begins on the 1-2 day after the bite.
It is dangerous if the infection gets into the bloodstream, then a general blood infection can develop – sepsis. Fortunately, this complication rarely happens.
When signs of wound infection appear, you should consult a doctor.
Rabies infection
This is the most dangerous consequence of a bite. A rabid dog transmits a virus with saliva. If not treated, rabies will be fatal.
The most dangerous bites are in the head.
How is rabies in humans
The first few days are characterized by the following symptoms:
After a dog bite, a person feels bad
a person feels unwell, feels weak, there may be a slight fever;
the pain at the site of the bite does not go away, although the wound has already healed;
the victim is tormented by insomnia, his appetite is gone;
he has a headache;
a person is depressed, annoyed.
For the second period, there are attacks of agitation with aggression and fear, accompanied by light and vigilance, drooling, convulsions, hallucinations, delusions.
Then, after a short period of calm, death occurs due to paralysis of the respiratory system or the heart.
At the slightest suspicion of infection with rabies after a dog bite, you should immediately consult a doctor. If you start vaccination against rabies in time, then a person can be saved almost always.
First aid for dog bites
What should I do at home, if you or your loved ones were bitten by a dog?
The bite site must be washed with soapy water.
First and foremost, wash the wound. Wash it with soapy water, cleaning up dog’s saliva and dirt. For this, chopped soap is dissolved in a bottle of water, the bottle is shaken and poured over the bite site generously.
If the bleeding is severe, you should put a napkin with hydrogen peroxide in place of the bite, press and leave for 2–3 minutes.
If the bleeding is small, stop it is not necessary, on the contrary, it is better if the blood and saliva goes away.
The wound is treated with any antiseptic that is on hand – chlorhexidine, a solution of potassium permanganate, etc.
Then lubricate the wound at the edges with alcohol and cover with a bandage.
Medical assistance
After a bite, you should seek qualified help – a therapist or infectious diseases.
If the injury is serious, the tissue is significantly damaged, there is heavy bleeding, call an ambulance.
Every dog must be vaccinated against rabies.
Only if the wound is small and you clearly know that the dog was vaccinated against rabies, you can not consult a doctor. Although doctors advise and in this case, make three vaccinations against rabies, watching the behavior of the animal for 10 days.
In the hospital, the injured will be treated. If necessary, stitches are applied.
Immediately, they will be vaccinated against rabies and tetanus (unless prophylactic tetanus vaccination has been performed).
Then prescribed a course of antibiotics.
Rabies Vaccination
It is carried out by all, if it is not known whether the dog was vaccinated.
If a grafted dog has bitten, you can avoid vaccinations.
The full course includes 6 vaccinations (and not 40), and make them in the shoulder (not in the stomach): the first – on the day of treatment, then on the 3rd, 7th, 14th, 30th and 90th day.
A full course of vaccinations is carried out if the bite is obtained from a stray dog or from a dog, the health of which is not possible to follow (the owners are unknown or do not make contact).
After a course of vaccinations can not drink alcohol
If there is an opportunity to watch the dog, then the injured person is given three injections. At the same time monitor the condition of the animal. And if for 10 days there will be no signs of the disease, then the vaccination is stopped.
