Sometimes, our four-legged friends can become aggressive and bite us. But usually they don't want to hurt us. A dog bite can happen either while playing, or because the dog has an injury or feels threatened by us, is afraid of us or is in pain. The bite usually happens at an unsuspected time and there is no substantial prevention from such a thing. For this reason, it is important to know the first actions for the immediate cleaning of the wound but also ways for a healthy and rapid healing!
Treatment in the First Hours After a Dog Bite
Did a dog bite you or a loved one? According to NHS, first aid in such a condition is as follows:
Clean the skin around the wound with soap and warm water. If water is not accessible at the time, you can use a common antiseptic, but try not to get it into the wound. However, the Prontosan Wound Spray solution in a bottle of 75ml, offers optimal cleaning of the wound and is ideal for you to always have it with you! This way you will protect yourself and your loved ones in such unexpected situations!
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Then use running water to remove hair, dirt, etc. Also try to remove other objects that may have stuck to the wound, such as teeth if the bite was particularly deep. If it was superficial, this risk is reduced.
A bite, especially from a stray dog, runs the risk of it getting infected. To reduce this risk, apply gentle pressure to the wound to cause slight bleeding (unless it is already bleeding). However, if the wound bleeding gets out of control, you will use a sterile gauze pad to apply pressure to the wound.
After you have thoroughly cleaned the wound, gently dry it and cover it with a new clean sterile gauze to protect it from germs. You can use adhesive or plain gauze.
If you experience pain or swelling in the area of the bite, you can take paracetamol or ibuprofen.
What Should I Watch Out for After a Dog Bite?
Risk of Wound infection
The bite is an open wound and therefore it is reasonable to run the risk of infection. According to statistical data, 1 in 4 dog bites become infected. Symptoms that indicate infection appear within 24 to 48 hours and are as follows:
- The wound becomes more painful.
- You notice swelling, redness, heat around the wound.
- The skin around the bite is fragile and sensitive.
- The presence of secretions from the wound is also worrying.
- Also, swollen lymph nodes especially in the neck, armpits and groin are signs of infection.
- Finally, elevated body temperature (over 38℃) and chills should prompt you to seek medical advice.
Tetanus
According to the CDC, tetanus is an infection caused by the tetanus bacterium (Clostridium tetani) and is not transmitted from person to person. Tetanus bacteria spores are found everywhere in the environment, including soil, dust, and animal feces. When a dog bite occurs, these seeds are likely to enter our body and develop into bacteria that release toxins into the body. It is very important to protect against tetanus through vaccination. In particular, in cases where you do not know the owner of the dog or if you have not received a booster dose in the last 5 years, you should be given within 48 hours of the bite.
Rabies
The World Health Organization (WHO) points out the importance of anti-rabies vaccination in dogs, as they are responsible for 99% of cases of rabies transmission to humans. Rabies is found in the saliva of infected animals and for this reason being bitten by them becomes particularly dangerous. The mortality rate after contracting the disease is 100%. However, in the good news of the day, there is a remedy if you seek medical attention quickly if bitten by a rabid dog. According to the Hellenic National Public Health Organization (EODY), if the patient has not been vaccinated in the past, he should be given anti-rabies hemoglobin and then protected by vaccination.
My Trauma has Healed. What Should I do Now?
After following the steps mentioned above and always in consultation with your doctor, your wound will be closed. The next step is to make sure it heals properly, especially if the wound is deep like a bite.
A major risk during the healing of a deep wound is the creation of a hypertrophic scar. A hypertrophic scar protrudes from the skin and is created by the attachment of extra connective tissue to the original wound area. In children, the secretion of collagen is the greatest, a fact that does accelerate healing, but at the same time increases the risk of creating such a scar due to the hypersecretion of collagen. Hypertrophic scars, when they do not receive the necessary treatment, can turn into a keloid scar. What are the best treatments?
Bbraun's Askina® Scar Repair silicone sheets enhance the good hydration of the scar. Thus, the skin regeneration process is enhanced and the formation of excessive unwanted scar tissue is prevented.
Common body parts where a bite can occur, are the face, especially in children, when playing with the dog, the arms as well as the legs. Askina® Scar Repair silicone sheets are made to adapt to any difficult part of the body (face, neck, knee), since they are available in various dimensions. They can also be cut to the user's desired size for a better fit.
Find the most suitable non-invasive method for the treatment of hypertrophic scars and keloid in one click!
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They are easy to use, waterproof and can be placed in just one step. They are designed to smooth old scars but also prevent the creation of excessive scar tissue during the healing process. In case of keloid formation, they can also be used in order to relieve the annoying symptoms of redness and itching. Finally, they are suitable for both old and new scars!