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A dog bite might cause several complications like infections, rabies, nerve or muscle damage, and more if not taken seriously.
The first important thing is to determine if the dog has been inoculated against rabies and ask the owner about the dog’s vaccination history to make it’s healthy. If the dog is alone and you know nothing about him, immediately contact your doctor.
All kinds of bites, even minor ones should be monitored for signs of infection. You can start monitoring by checking if it becomes red, swollen, warm, tender to the touch, and if the wound gets worse, more pain, or developing a fever, see a doctor immediately.
What you can do meanwhile:
- To stop the bleeding, apply pressure to the area with a clean bandage or towel.
- Wash the wound with soap and warm water and gently press a clean cloth over the wound to stop the flow of blood.
- If the wound is on the face or neck or near a joint it is important to request immediate medical care.
- Apply an antibacterial ointment to the wound and cover with a sterile bandage. Watch for any signs of infection and seek help if you suspect infection or possible exposure to rabies, or if the wound is severe1.
And finally, the importance of the “tetanus” shot: your child has a weak immune system and kids whose shots are not up to date, need to take a shot post-exposure to tetanus prophylaxis to prevent any tetanus infection2.
Dr Lina Farhat
Pediatrician
