What to Do if Bitten by a Dog

Dog bites can cause pain and injury, but they can also spread germs that cause infection.

Protect yourself

• Put your purse, bag or jacket between you and the dog.

• If you're knocked down, curl into a ball with your head tucked in and your hands over your ears and neck.

Wash wounds with soap and water

When you get to a safe place, wash the wound right away with soap and water. Then follow these steps.

• For minor wounds:

• Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water.
• Apply an antibiotic cream.
• Cover the wound with a clean bandage.
• See a healthcare provider if the wound becomes red, painful, warm or swollen, if you develop a fever, or if the dog that bit you was acting strangely.

• For deep wounds:

• Apply pressure with a clean, dry cloth to stop the bleeding.
• If you can't stop the bleeding, or you feel faint or weak, call 911 right away.
• See a healthcare provider as soon as possible.

• See a healthcare provider:

• If the wound is serious (uncontrolled bleeding, loss of function, extreme pain, muscle or bone showing, etc.).
• If the wound becomes red, painful, warm or swollen, or if you develop a fever.
• If you don't know if the dog has been vaccinated against rabies.
• If it's been more than 5 years since your last tetanus shot and the bite is deep.

Report the bite

Rabies from dogs in the U.S. is rare, but it's serious enough that every bite should be taken seriously. Consider reporting the bite to your local animal control agency or police department, especially:

• If you don't know if the dog has been vaccinated against rabies.
• If the dog seems sick or is acting strangely.

If possible, contact the owner and make sure the dog has a current rabies vaccination.

You'll need the rabies vaccine license number, the name of the vet who gave the vaccine, and the owner's name, address and phone number.

♦ A dog that bites someone is usually confined and watched for 10 days. If the dog stays healthy during that time, it couldn't have spread rabies through the bite.

Who pays?

♦ If someone else's dog bit you, their homeowners or renters insurance usually pays for your medical bills. Get the owner's name and contact information, and keep copies of your medical bills.

Diseases you can get from dog bites

Besides causing injury, dog bites can spread germs from dogs to people. Up to 18% of dog bites become infected with bacteria.

Over 60 different kinds of bacteria have been found in dog mouths, but only a handful of these germs can make you sick.

Dog bites can cause the following diseases:

♦ Rabies is one of the most serious diseases people can get from dog bites. Although getting rabies from a dog in the United States is rare, it's still a risk. Rabies is a virus that affects the brain and is almost always fatal once symptoms appear.

Rabies is most commonly spread through the bite and saliva of an infected animal. It can be prevented by vaccinating dogs. Anyone bitten by a dog should talk with a healthcare provider to see if rabies treatment is needed.

• Today's treatment is one shot of rabies immune globulin on the first day, mostly injected around the bite, plus 4 vaccine shots over two weeks. People with weakened immune systems may need a fifth. The vaccine shots go in your arm like a flu or tetanus shot. No more shots in the stomach.

♦ Capnocytophaga bacteria live in the mouths of people, dogs and cats. These bacteria don't make dogs or cats sick. Rarely, Capnocytophaga can spread to people through bites, scratches or close contact with a dog or cat and cause illness.

Most people who have contact with dogs or cats don't get sick. People at greater risk include those with weakened immune systems, people who've had their spleen removed, and heavy drinkers. For them, this infection can turn serious fast, so see a doctor quickly after any bite.

♦ Pasteurella is a type of bacteria found in over half of infected dog bite wounds. It commonly causes a painful, red infection at the bite, but can cause more serious disease in people with weakened immune systems. There may also be swollen glands, swollen joints and trouble moving.

♦ MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) is a type of staph infection that resists a certain group of antibiotics. Dogs and other animals can carry MRSA without showing any symptoms, but the bacteria can cause skin, lung and urinary tract infections in people.

In some people, MRSA can spread to the bloodstream or lungs and cause life-threatening infections.

♦ Tetanus is caused by a toxin made by bacteria called Clostridium tetani. The bacteria are usually found in soil, dust and manure, and enter the body through breaks in the skin, usually cuts or puncture wounds.

This toxin causes rigid paralysis in people and could be a problem in deep bite wounds.

• Tetanus is rare but serious. About 1 in 10 people who get it die, and older adults are at higher risk. That's why it's important to keep up with your tetanus shots. Most people get a booster every 10 years, or sooner after a deep wound.

• There have been only about 30 reported cases each year in the U.S. Nearly all are in people who didn't get all their recommended tetanus shots.

Any dog can bite, but if you understand the risks and know how to protect yourself, you'll lower your chances of getting sick or hurt.

For more, see Avoiding Dog Bites and How to Stay Healthy Around Dogs.

Source: NIH, CDC