Blog Post

Pets offer many joyful hours for millions of families, and dogs are the most frequently adopted type of animal in America. Roughly 42% of homes, or 56.3 million, have a dog (in many cases, more than one), and for many, their furry friend is as much a part of the family as anyone.

But dogs, being animals, can bite under the wrong circumstances. When they do, you need to know how to manage the situation. To learn what to do when a dog bites you or a loved one, let’s go over why it happens, the possible complications of the bite, and the steps to take to stay safe.

And if you’re seeking treatment for dog bites and other emergencies, you can rely on our medical team at Houston Medical ER in Houston and Spring, Texas.

Reasons dogs bite people

You may not think your adorable pup will bite you or someone else, and under normal circumstances, that makes sense. But when it happens, there’s always an underlying factor involved, which can include things like:

• Fear
• Disorientation
• Protection
• Frustration
• Playing

Possible complications

Depending on the force the dog uses when biting, the damage can range from superficial to severe. This ranges from scratches or small cuts in the skin to deep punctures, lacerations, or crushing injuries (more common among larger dogs). 

Additionally, any bite can become infected due to bacteria in the dog’s mouth, which can lead to sepsis or other issues.

If the dog hasn’t been vaccinated, rabies can be transmitted to humans. This disease can cause issues that spread into the central nervous system if not treated. Severe bites can also lead to scarring, nerve damage, sensitivity, bone or joint pain, and chronic issues with pain. 

What to do if a dog bites you

If a dog bites you or someone you know, follow these essential steps to get things under control and stay safe:

Clean the wound

Like any cut, abrasion, or puncture, keeping the damage clean of debris and bacteria is essential to avoid infection. 

Stop any bleeding

Before you can properly assess the damage, you need to get any bleeding under control, so use something sterile to act as a compress if necessary.

Use antibiotics if available

After cleaning the wound, apply an antibiotic cream or ointment to reduce the risk of infection.

Wrap in sterile bandages

Make sure whatever you bandage the wound with is clean and germ-free to keep from making matters worse.

Check for infection symptoms

Even if you’ve followed all of these steps, there is a risk of infection, so check the wound from time to time to be safe.

Whether the bite is minor or major, you should get it checked out. For treatment of animal bites and other emergencies, contact our team at Houston Medical ER today.