How should I treat wounds caused by dog bites?

On Behalf of | Oct 27, 2014 | Dog Bites & Animal Attacks |

Dogs have a well-deserved reputation of being loyal and friendly pets. When properly trained, most dogs are well behaved. But dogs can also act in an aggressive manner when they feel threatened or if they believe they are protecting their territory. It is best to approach dogs we do not know with care and to avoid dogs that display aggressive or vicious behavior.

An encounter with an untrained or vicious dog can be extremely traumatic, especially if the encounter results in you, or someone you care about, being bitten. Dog bites can leave serious wounds that need tending. So, what should be done to treat a dog bite?

WebMD makes the following recommendations:

  • Clean the bite area with water and soap.
  • Apply a clean towel to the wound to staunch bleeding.
  • Elevate the area that is injured.
  • Use an antibiotic ointment on the injury for preventing infection. Do this daily.
  • Cover the wound with a sterile bandage.

After taking these steps, you may want to visit a doctor to have the injury further examined and treated. The doctor may want to know about things such as if you know the dog’s owner and if the dog’s vaccinations were up-to-date. The prevention of infection will be of concern as well.

Certain breeds of dogs are large enough and strong enough that an attack could inflict serious injuries. If bite wounds are deep enough, then plastic surgery may be required to treat scarring.

If you, or any of your family members, are injured in a dog attack, it is important that responsible parties are held accountable. A Texas dog bite attorney could help you in pursuing compensation for physical injuries, psychological damages and financial losses.