Medical Treatments for Dog Bites

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) in the United States estimates that there are 4.5 million dog bites every year, and nearly 880,000 people seek treatment at hospitals for these wounds. Both the dogs that bite and the people who were bitten need to be treated in proper ways so they do not become infected or spread harmful diseases such as rabies.

  1. Initial Treatments

    • The initial treatment of a dog bite should be treated as any other wound would be. Immediately separate yourself from the dog and keep the dog tied up and away from people for a while. The wound should then be sterilized with hydrogen peroxide or alcohol and kept elevated so that any bleeding will stop quickly. Then, bandage or wrap the wound with gauze so that bacteria from the open air cannot get into it, minimizing the chance of infection.

    Upon Infection

    • If the wound from the dog bite becomes infected, then you should visit a hospital so a doctor can make sure nothing serious is occurring and that the bite has not damaged the body in other ways. Most of the time, any infection from a dog bite can be cured with antibiotics.

    Rabid Dogs

    • If a rabid dog bites you, immediately go to the hospital to be tested for rabies. If rabies is found, you must be treated for the disease immediately before it can spread to your brain. Rabies can cause mental and psychological damage if not treated. In some cases, it can be fatal for both humans and animals. Treatment includes a large number of shots, which can be painful. Additionally, the dog must be put down before it can bite anyone else, spreading the disease even further.