About Bite, Dog (Dog Bite Treatment)
Learn about the disease, illness and/or condition Bite, Dog (Dog Bite Treatment) including: symptoms, causes, treatments, contraindications and conditions at ClusterMed.info.
Bite, Dog (Dog Bite Treatment)
Bite, Dog (Dog Bite Treatment) |
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Bite, Dog (Dog Bite Treatment) InformationDog bite facts
Safety tips to prevent dog bites
How can dog bites be prevented?Dog bites often occur when there is miscommunication between the dog and the victim. It is not common to have an unprovoked attack by a stray dog. Often, it is the dog owner or a family member who is bitten. Dog bite prevention begins with:
How many dog bites occur?Almost 70 million dogs live in the United States, and since many victims of dog bites don't seek medical care or report the attack, it may be that the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)'s estimate of 4.5 million dog bites each year in the U.S. may be too low. Approximately 900,000 dog bite victims seek emergency medical care at hospitals in the U.S. every year.Dogs have rounded teeth, and it is the pressure exerted by their jaws that can cause significant damage to the tissues under the skin, including bones, muscles, tendons, blood vessels, and nerves.About 25,000 victims of dog bites undergo reconstructive surgery each year, and 31 people died from causes related to dog bites in 2013. What is the treatment for a dog bite?There are three important treatment issues that need to be addressed with a dog bite:
What should I do if someone is bitten by a dog?The dog bite victim needs to be taken to a safe place away from the assailant dog to prevent further attack and injury. Since dog bites can cause significant damage beneath the skin, a type of injury that cannot always easily be appreciated, medical care should be accessed by a health care practitioner. Wounds should be kept elevated and, if possible, washing the wound with tap water may be attempted. Information should be obtained from the dog's owner about the dog's rabies immunization status, but if this is not possible, hospital, animal control centers, or law enforcement personnel will help gather any required information. When should I call the doctor for a dog bite?Medical care should be accessed if the dog bite disrupts the skin causing a puncture, laceration, or tear. As well, if there is pain at or near the injury site, underlying structures may have been damaged and medical care may be needed. If the skin is not disturbed, or if there is a minimal abrasion present, it may be reasonable to watch for signs of infection (pain, redness, warmth, swelling, and drainage of pus or fluid) before seeking medical care. Please note: if the victim elects not to seek medical care, the rabies immunization status of the dog must be determined immediately. Rabies therapy, if necessary, must begin as soon as possible. The victim's tetanus status also needs to be current. Exposure to a rabid animal does not always result in rabies. If treatment is initiated promptly following a rabies exposure, rabies can be prevented. If a rabies exposure is not treated and a person develops clinical signs of rabies, the diseased almost always results in death. Infants and children should be evaluated after any dog bite. Who is at risk for a dog bite?The risk of being bitten by a dog increases if there is a dog in the home; the more dogs there are, the greater the risk. Men are more frequent victims than women (who are bitten by cats more often). Children between the ages of 5 and 9 are more likely to be bitten by a dog than other age groups. Children are also more likely to present for medical attention. |
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