Level 2: Skin contact made but no punctures. There may be small lacerations.
Level 1 and level 2 make up 99% or more of dog bite incidents —minor dog bite, no blood. These dogs are most likely not severely dangerous, and the prognosis for their behavioral issues is good with proper treatment.
Level 2 bites involve tooth contact with skin without breaking the skin. Owners often think of this contact as playful and commonly refer to it as mouthing or nipping. Again, it's important to evaluate the dog's other behaviors to determine whether this is a precursor to a more serious bite.
Level two dog bites occur when the bite lightly grazes the skin but does not break it. It leaves redness and slight bruising but does not penetrate the skin enough to cause excessive bleeding. However, slight bleeding can still occur because of the forward or lateral movement of the teeth while in bite mode.
Level Three:
In this type of bite, the dog's teeth break the victim's skin and leave bloody marks behind. There are two subcategories within level three to differentiate between single bites and multiple bites, but if these bites are shallower than the length of the dog's canine teeth, it falls into level three.
Level 1: No skin-contact by teeth – can be exuberant obnoxious behavior or aggression. Level 2: Skin contact made but no punctures. There may be small lacerations. Level 3: One-four shallow punctures from a single bite and potentially small lacerations from pulling the biting dog or victim body part away.
Level 4 Bite - One to four punctures from a single bite with at least one puncture deeper than half the length of the dog's canine teeth. The person or dog bitten may also have deep bruising around the wound or wounds from the dog shaking its head from side to side. At this level, the red warning flag needs to go up.
LEVEL 5—MULTIPLE BITES WITH DEEP WOUNDS
Dogs responsible for Level 5 bites are generally considered dangerous dogs. Rehabilitation may be possible with the help of a veterinary specialist or trainer, but it would require a dedicated professional and a great deal of work, with no guarantee of success.
Some signs that a dog bite is serious include: Extreme pain or pain that worsens over time. Uncontrollable bleeding. Deep lacerations or puncture wounds.
Minor Wounds – First Aid
For a Level 1, 2, or even 3 bite, it is usually possible to treat it at home. Wash the affected area with soap and water. If the bite is bleeding, apply pressure using either sterile gauze or a clean cloth. After the bleeding stops, apply antibiotic ointment to prevent infection.
At Level 1, the dog has not yet made physical contact with the victim and therefore has not yet bitten the victim. Typically, the dog is biting or snapping in the air. Although the dog may not seem particularly dangerous, it is hostile and shows signs that it might bite.
If the bite is not bleeding severely, wash the wound thoroughly with mild soap and running water for 3 to 5 minutes. Then cover the bite with antibiotic ointment and a clean dressing. An animal bite may not appear to be life-threatening, but if left untreated the bite can lead to a serious infection.
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.
Dog bites are not rare; these are common events that occur in normal family's lives and it is estimated that 15% of dog owners have been bitten by their own dog. Once a dog bites, he has shown his willingness to use biting as a behavioral strategy at least in that situation and therefore is more likely to bite.
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.
Most animal bites are not serious, but you may need to get medical help if the bite is severe or there are signs of infection. This page is about human bites and bites from animals, such as cats and dogs, that have broken the skin.
Signs of serious dog bites include bleeding uncontrollably or developing signs of an infection. It can be difficult to tell how serious a dog bite may be in the first few minutes after it occurs. For this reason, it is important to treat any bite that breaks the skin as a serious injury.
Categories of Bite Wounds:
For example, petting an animal or providing it with food. Licks also fall under this category. Category 2: Small scrapes but absence of bleeding. Category 3: One or many bites which puncture the skin with the animal's saliva entering the wound.
As you read in the list above, level 3 bites often require medical attention, including antibiotics, wound care, and reconstructive surgery. Documenting the injury and seeking medical treatment immediately following the attack is essential. It's important to be able to gauge when to do to the hospital for a dog bite.
Your bite may take as little as 7 days or as long as several months to heal, depending on how bad it is. Taking good care of your wound at home will help it heal and reduce your chance of infection. The doctor has checked you carefully, but problems can develop later.
Dog bites are classified by severity. Level 1: The dog's teeth don't touch the skin. Level 2: The dog's teeth touch, but do not break, the skin. Level 3: There are one to four shallow puncture wounds in the skin. Level 4: One to four punctures from a single bite.
Level 10: Dog bites cause death to victim; flesh may or may not be consumed.
Category 2: SAID guard or defense dogs
These are dogs of the Staffordshire terrier or American Staffordshire terrier, Rottweiler, Tosa or assimilated by their morphological characteristics to dogs of the Rottweiler breed, without being registered with the LOF.