First-aid for Minor Dog Bites

Infection is the most severe end result of dog bite, if not death. Nerve damage, and skin blemish or even deformity of face can also be incurred. Los Angeles injury lawyers are familiar with this kind of case for dog bite is one of the leading reports of injuries in the city.

However, if you have incurred a not-so-near-to-death type of dog bite, there are a variety of options for you to do in order to prevent the spread of infection or rabies, which is very common to dogs. The following are some of the treatments that you can do at home.

• Check the wound. It is normal for bleeding to occur after being bitten by a dog. If it happens, you might want to stop it as soon as possible. To do so, elevate the affected body part and press a clean dry cloth against the lesion.
• Check the dog’s vaccination record. You may want to ask why it is important to do this. Simple. It is because rabies is a fatal viral illness that hits the central nervous system and is carried by the bite of infected animals. Once symptoms have transpired, there is no treatment for it, but if the victim is immunized abruptly after being infected by the disease, resistance can be improved.

Further, it is important because it is only through such process you will know if the dog is rabies-free. A valid rabies tag should be presented. If not, the owner will be held liable for all the damages acquired by the victim.

• Wash the wound. Once the bleeding has stopped, wash the wound with mild soap and clean water for approximately three to five minutes. Keep the water running over the wound so that bits of dirt will be removed and flushed out.

After washing, tap the wound with clean cloth and apply antidote. After doing so, cover the cloth with hygienic bandage.

• Have a tetanus injection. Tetanus is a severe and sometimes grave disease caused by bacteria that enters the body through wounds. If you haven’t had a dose of tetanus shot in the past five years, you ought to get one. Stiffness and sporadic contraction of the voluntary muscles illustrates the disease. It is commonly known as "lockjaw."

• Observe for infection. Watch the lesion for continuing skin redness, swelling and other painful signs of infection in the next 24 to 48 hours. If you feel a red line form the wound moving to your heart connotes you should go to the emergency room right away.