What Are The Dangers Of Dog Bites?

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What Are The Dangers Of Dog Bites?
(Photo : What Are The Dangers Of Dog Bites?)

If you're bitten by a dog or some other kind of animal, you can't just continue about your day and pretend as if nothing has happened. Even if it was not a serious bite, there are still risks to consider. 

Being attacked by a dog is a scary experience, but there's nothing to worry about if you get proper treatment as soon as possible. You'll also want to stay alert in the days after the attack for any possible symptoms. 

After an attack, make sure that you are safe from further attacks and do what you can to ensure that others are safe as well. If it's possible to restrain the dog, then do so, but don't put yourself at risk. Then you should tend to your injuries. 

Open Wounds

One of the most obvious dog bite dangers comes from the wound itself. Dogs can tear flesh and even expose muscle or bone. This is incredibly painful and requires immediate medical attention for a good outcome. 

You can lose a lot of blood this way, and you may be left with significant scars once your wound heals. Depending on the wound, you might require stitches or even surgery. No matter how serious it is, you will have a better chance of avoiding long-term consequences if you get care as soon as possible. 

Infection

Some people might assume that they don't need medical attention after a dog bite if there is no obvious wound or torn flesh. However, even a smaller bite still carries a risk of infection. Clean and disinfect the injury once you're safe, and consider following up with a doctor.

If a dog bites you and you begin to experience fever or dizziness, or you see significant swelling or discoloration where you were bitten, that may be a sign of an infection. It's important to get medical attention quickly to reduce your risk of complications from the infection like sepsis.  

Rabies

If you know the dog's owner, you should check in with them after the attack to find out if their dog has received a vaccination for rabies. If the dog hasn't been vaccinated or they don't have a certificate to prove it, you will need to get a rabies shot to ensure your safety. 

Vaccination for rabies is unfortunately costly, but it's worth the expense to ensure your safety. Even if the dog is from your neighborhood and shows no signs of rabies, it's impossible to know for sure if you are at risk if there is no vaccination record.  

What to Do 

Prioritizing your health and safety is important. Once you've handled that, you can worry about your next steps. You are legally required to hire a dog bite lawyer so you can take appropriate action. 

You might feel bad for the dog or their owner, but saying nothing means putting others at risk if the dog has a history of biting people. Think about your family and community. If the dog is going to be a threat to others, it's your responsibility to make sure that people are safe.

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