What Do You Do When Your Dog Bites Your Baby?

As a dog owner and a parent, it's only natural for you to want both your babies to get along. Unfortunately, even friendly dogs bite young children occasionally. Even if your pup doesn't intend to seriously injury your child, he can easily maim an infant's fragile body.

  1. Immediate Care

    • Get the dog away from the baby immediately if he bites, growls or acts aggressively. Yell for the help of another adult immediately if the dog is still near the baby. Shut him out of the room or have a helper pull him away if you're outdoors. Check your baby's entire body for wounds. If the injury is a small scratch, you can simply wash the area with soap and apply antibiotic ointment, according to BabyCenter. Keep an eye on the wound and let your family physician know if the damaged skin becomes red, swollen or shows other signs of infection. If you have any doubts about how much pressure the dog put into the bite, or if the wound is bleeding, apply basic first aid and call your doctor to advise him of the situation. Don't hesitate to contact emergency medical personnel if the wound is gaping, bruised or if the baby's neck or face is injured.

    Report the Bite

    • Contact your city's town hall to identify the government agency responsible for dog bite incidents. Call that agency and report the bite, even if the injury was only superficial. You may expose yourself to legal problems later if your dog bites someone else, and investigators learn that a previous incident was not reported. Check your dog's vaccine information to make sure his rabies shots are up to date. Call your doctor if your pet is due for a vaccine or if you aren't sure when he was last vaccinated for rabies.

    Separate the Dog

    • One bite is enough to make new parents rethink their decision to keep their dog. You don't have to put your pet up for adoption, but it's a good idea to keep him away from the baby entirely until the child is older. Create a separate room for your dog where he can stay while the baby is out. When the baby is securely shut in his room in the evening, you can let the dog free in the house for a while.

    Behavior Modification

    • Consult with a dog trainer or animal behaviorist for strategies to address your dog's behavior. Have your pup fixed and put him through basic obedience training to help tame his aggression, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. When your baby is a bit older and your dog's attitude is more predictable, you can slowly introduce them in a controlled environment.