Most states mandate a 10-day dog bite quarantine because federal law governing testing and vaccination against rabies for animals is insufficient to protect everyone from this highly contagious virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend a 10-day quarantine to combat this.
Wound Care
Because of the risk for infection, you should see a health care provider within 24 hours for any bite that breaks the skin. If you are caring for someone who was bitten: Calm and reassure the person. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before treating the wound.
After being bitten, most people who become ill will show symptoms within 3 to 5 days, but this can range anywhere from 1 to 14 days. Most Capnocytophaga infections usually occur with dog or cat bites. But some people who develop a Capnocytophaga infection have not been bitten.
Seek immediate emergency medical care as soon as possible after you or a member of your family is bitten by a dog. A dog's mouth is full of bacteria that can be extremely dangerous to you.
Dogs, cats, ferrets, and livestock such as horses, cattle, goats and sheep should be confined and observed for 10 days following a bite, to rule out rabies risk. There is no such option for wild animals that bite humans; these bites are handled on a case-by-case basis following consultation with MDH.
A tetanus vaccination is good for 10 years. But, if you're not sure yours is up to date or if your dog bite wound was particularly dirty, it's a good idea to get a booster right after your bite. We often recommend you get one if it's been more than five years since your last shot, too.
Can a Dog That Bites Ever Be Trusted Again? With enough patience and care, many dogs can learn how to manage their stress levels more effectively. As you build better communication skills with your dog, you'll also start to rebuild your trust with them.
Signs a bite may be infected
Symptoms that suggest a wound has become infected include: redness and swelling around the wound. the wound feels warm and increasingly painful. liquid or pus leaks from the wound.
At a level two bite, a dog's teeth will make contact with a person's skin and leave some redness or light bruising but does not break the skin.
Some signs that a dog bite is serious include: Extreme pain or pain that worsens over time. Uncontrollable bleeding. Deep lacerations or puncture wounds.
In general, infections occur when bacteria, germs, or other spreadable diseases are able to enter the body, usually by means of an open gash on the skin. According to the Academy of Pediatrics, infection occurs in about 10 to 15 percent of dog bites.
Overall, only a fifth of dog bites become infected, compared with 36% of hand bites,13 and loss of function can result from infection.
Level 3: One-four shallow punctures from a single bite and potentially small lacerations from pulling the biting dog or victim body part away.
At Level 3, the dog has made physical contact with the victim, involving simple bruising or touching and shallow skin punctures. These skin punctures are shallower than half the length of the dog's teeth and can be the product of a single bite or multiple bites. All punctures must be shallow.
*Clean the area with running water and soap, as much as possible. *Immediately seek the help of a medical expert. *After washing, you can also apply betadine or an antiseptic in liquid form. *Don't bandage the wound.
While it's normal for a dog bite wound to be a little red and tender, especially while it's still fresh, this symptom should minimize itself as the bite heals. If it does not get better, or gets significantly worse, you may have an infection. This is particularly true if the bite also feels warm or hot to the touch.
Your dog's wound will go through 4 stages of healing Inflammation, Debridement, Repair, and Maturation. Inflammation is when the initial wound happens and the immune system activates and sends cells to fight infection and temporarily repair the damage.
Over 50% of dog bite victims are children, and most people are bitten by their own pet or a dog they know. Once a dog has bitten, she is more likely to bite again because she has learned it works for her and stops the unwanted interaction.
Let warm water run over the wound for 5 – 10 minutes, gently washing it with a mild soap. If blood is still flowing, use a clean towel or cloth and apply gentle pressure to stop it. Cover the wound with antibiotic cream. Depending on the size of the wound, use a bandaid or sterile bandage to keep the wound covered.
You will need a tetanus vaccination (shot) if you haven't had one in the last 5 years. Tetanus is a serious bacterial infection that releases toxins into your blood. It can be fatal. Your healthcare professional may advise that you have a tetanus booster injection.
Symptoms of tetanus may not begin to appear until a week after the injury, so as a rule of thumb, try to get the tetanus booster shot within 48 hours of the injury. If tetanus is left untreated, your body could face long-term complications such as airway obstruction, heart failure, muscle damage, and/or brain damage.
Tetanus immunization — Tetanus is a serious, potentially life-threatening infection that can be transmitted by an animal or human bite. Adults who are bitten should receive a tetanus vaccine (called a tetanus toxoid vaccine) if the most recent tetanus vaccine was greater than 5 years previously.
In general, most experts recommend seeking medical care within 24 hours after you've been bitten—especially if the bite has broken the skin. Dog bites can cause medical problems that aren't immediately obvious, such as rabies.