Amoxicillin-clavulanate potassium (Augmentin) is the antibiotic of choice for a dog bite. For patients who are allergic to penicillin, doxycycline (Vibramycin) is an acceptable alternative, except for children younger than eight years and pregnant women.
Antibiotic prophylaxis commonly is recommended for moderate to severe wounds of the face, hands (bites tend to involve the dominant hand), feet or genital area. Bites involving tendon, bone or joints and bites resulting in devitalized tissue generally are treated with antibiotic prophylaxis.
Always seek medical advice if you've been bitten by an animal or person and the bite has broken the skin. People and animals have a lot of bacteria in their mouths, which can cause an infection if a bite breaks the skin.
However, The Cleveland Clinicnotes that getting a tetanus shot, or at least ensuring that you are up to date on your tetanus shot, is often a worthwhile precaution after getting bitten by a dog. A doctor may order a tetanus booster if your wound is dirty or you had your last shot more than five years ago.
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.
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 can lead to staph infections and strep infections; both serious and potentially fatal conditions caused by staphylococcus or streptococcus bacteria. Common symptoms include: Oozing blisters.
A bite from a dog increases the risk that tetanus bacteria can enter your body. If you don't get a vaccination and you develop tetanus, symptoms include: Muscle spasms, especially in the stomach. Difficulty swallowing.
This bite scale looks at the severity of the injury, and are outlined below. Level 1: No skin-contact by teeth – can be exuberant obnoxious behavior or aggression.
If a dog bites you, taking immediate measures to seek medical care and prevent infection is crucial. After suffering a dog bite, you should: Wash the wound with mild soap and warm water for 5-10 minutes. Then, apply antibiotic cream and wrap the wound in a sterile bandage.
Some signs that a dog bite is serious include: Extreme pain or pain that worsens over time. Uncontrollable bleeding. Deep lacerations or puncture wounds.
If you have been bitten by a dog recently, then there are some dietary restrictions that you must follow. In India, various studies have been done and the results have found out that spicy food, potatoes, tomatoes, coriander, dhal, and meat should be avoided completely during Dog Bites.
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.
A tetanus shot may be required if you have not had one within 10 years; if you are not sure when you had your last tetanus shot, and you've been bitten, you should get one within 72 hours after your injury. If bitten, but the bleeding is minor, cleanse and treat the wound as you would a minor wound.
A dog bite can lead to a range of injuries, including scratches, deep open cuts, puncture wounds, crush injuries, and tearing away of a body part. Dog bites rarely cause death.
Post-exposure rabies prophylaxis (PEP) is compulsory if you are bitten by a dog, cat or other animal that is rabid or is suspected to be infected with rabies. PEP is required under following conditions: If the bite has broken the skin and the wound is bleeding.
If a dog bite pierces a person's skin, bacteria from the animal's mouth can get into the body, which can cause an infection. Washing the wound thoroughly can remove the bacteria from the body and help prevent infection. If the bacteria stay in the body, they can cause an infection, such as tetanus, rabies, or sepsis.
You may need a tetanus vaccine if the injury has broken your skin and your tetanus vaccinations are not up to date. Tetanus is a serious but rare condition that can be fatal if untreated. The bacteria that can cause tetanus can enter your body through a wound or cut in your skin. They're often found in soil and manure.
Overall, only a fifth of dog bites become infected, compared with 36% of hand bites,13 and loss of function can result from infection.
ANTIBIOTIC TREATMENT
Only 15 to 20 percent of dog bite wounds become infected.
If a dog bites you or a loved one, there is a strong likelihood that bacteria from the canine's mouth will enter your body and, eventually, your bloodstream, which could put you at risk of developing an infection Though washing the wound thoroughly immediately after the incident can help prevent infection, stubborn ...
Dog and cat bites
Oral amoxycillin with clavulanate is the most useful drug, but for patients with a penicillin allergy other antibiotic combinations such as clindamycin plus ciprofloxacin, or clindamycin plus trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, may be used.
If the wound is infected on presentation, a course of 10 days or longer is recommended. The first-line oral therapy is amoxicillin-clavulanate. For higher-risk infections, a first dose of antibiotic may be given intravenously (ie, ampicillin-sulbactam, ticarcillin-clavulanate, piperacillin-tazobactam, or a carbapenem).