ClinicPets

What to do when dog bites

...first aid after dog bite

Dog bite is perhaps the most common domestic accident around pet keepers.
This is because many things transpire when one keeps pets in the homes especially the most common pets-dogs.
Being an accident, it can happen at any time as man’s best friends often have their own mood swings.
To care for a dog bite injury at home, the steps below are important.
*Place a clean towel over the injury to stop any bleeding
This is necessary because excessive loss of blood is an associate danger after a dog bite.
*Try to keep the injured area elevated
The surface area of the bite should be elevated because of movements of fluid.

*Wash the bite carefully with soap and water.

The bite area should be washed thoroughly under running water. If there is no medicated soap around, any soap may be used, allow it to foam properly while washing the surface.

*Apply a sterile bandage to the wound.

This is necessary in keeping the bite area safe from infection, insects and dust

*Apply antibiotic ointment to the injury every day to prevent infection.

Antibiotic ointment would further prevent the victim from infection, it is a double protection.

*Move the patient to the nearest hospital as fast as possible

After the above steps, the victim must be moved to the nearest hospital for necessary injection against rabies.

*Inquire about the attack dog

Relevant questions should be asked the dog owner if available. Dog owner should be asked when last the dog was vaccinated against rabies. This would help to know if it is a rabid dog.

In all, whether an infected dog or not, the above precaution must be taken because prevention they say is better than cure.

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