Dogs may carry serious contagious viruses in their saliva and being bitten by a dog can result in several diseases. They have almost as much bacteria in their mouths as humans and their bite can cause infections in humans and other animals. Any dog bite no matter how mild should be treated as soon as possible.
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Tetanus
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Tetanus bacteria (clostridium tetani) are found in dirt and feces. Dogs eat things on the ground and clean themselves with their tongues. When a dog bites someone the bacteria transfers from their mouth to the wound, where the bacteria begins to multiply. Symptoms include fever and muscle spasms. These spasms can become severe and can affect the throat and chest making swallowing and breathing difficult.
Staph Infection
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Staph infections are caused when the staphylococcus bacterium that normally resides on a person's skin enters the body. When a dog bites through the skin it can cause these bacteria to enter the bloodstream. The bacterium then enters the heart, lungs, intestines, causing disease. Symptoms include skin problems such as rashes or boils, persistent fever and nausea. According to the Mayo Clinic staph can cause an inflammation of the heart known as endocarditis which can be life threatening.
Pasteurellosis
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Pasteurellosis is the most common dog bite infection. The bacterium, pasteurella, is found in a dog's saliva. Symptoms appear within 12 to 24 hours of being bitten. These include pain, swelling and redness at the bite, headache and nausea. This disease moves very quickly and can lead to infections in the bone and tendons in the appendage bitten. To avoid permanent damage medical help should be sought immediately.
Capnocytophaga Infection
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Capnocytophaga, caused by the bacteria capnocytophaga canimorsus, is a serious disease resulting from even a mild a dog bite. The bacteria can cause septicemia, which in turn can lead to sepsis. Sepsis may cause whole body inflammation, fluctuating temperatures and accelerated heart and breathing rates. It can lead to multiple organ dysfunction syndrome where organs begin shutting down, sometimes resulting in death. People with compromised immune systems or those who have had their spleen removed are more susceptible to this disease.
Rabies
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The most well-known and most deadly disease from a dog bite is rabies. This is a virus and symptoms include fever, head and body aches, hydrophobia, paralysis and coma. When total paralysis sets in the lungs cease to function causing suffocation. According to the WHO, once a person develops the symptoms of rabies there is no treatment and usually ends in death.
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