People injured by dog bites must seek medical care as soon as possible. Even seemingly minor wounds can have long-term health issues such as infections and damage to nerves or bones, prompting further treatment from medical practitioners.
Any open wound should be swabbed for bacteria culture to determine which kinds exist. A specific antibiotic may then be necessary in order to treat an infection properly.
1. Infections
No matter the source, bite infections can pose serious health problems to humans. Staph and Strep infections to bacterial cellulitis infections could result in serious infection issues – some even develop fatal conditions like Rabies.
Infection symptoms from a dog attack can include fevers, swollen glands and joints, mobility issues and possible sepsis, which may result in organ and system failure. Doctors will clean and irrigate the wound before prescribing antibiotics to fight off bacteria and prevent further damage to muscles, nerves, blood vessels and bones; additionally they will offer victims who have not received their annual tetanus shot since five years a tetanus shot as preventative measure.
2. Bleeding
Dog teeth and jaws can cause serious injuries by cutting skin or crushing muscles and tendons, increasing the likelihood of infection, medical treatment needs and mortality rates. This leads to serious injuries as well as increasing medical treatment needs and mortality rates.
Dog bites often lead to infection. Most infections are caused by bacteria entering through bite wounds and spreading through your system; this bacteria may lead to serious health complications including life-threatening flesh-eating infections like Necrotizing fasciitis.
If an infection from a dog bite develops, immediate medical assistance must be sought from either a hospital or urgent care center. A doctor should assess their rabies immunization status as well as provide them with a tetanus shot before possibly prescribing antibiotics to protect themselves against further health complications and infection.
3. Amputations
Dog attacks often leave victims with serious physical trauma that leave scars, disfigure and maim them permanently, such as fractures, lacerations and amputations. Some victims require skin grafts, plastic surgery or other treatments in order to minimize physical trauma caused by these attacks.
Amputation may be an appropriate treatment option when damage to a limb is irreparable, especially when nerve supply and bone integrity have been compromised. It may also be recommended when treating certain forms of cancer like osteosarcoma or soft tissue sarcoma in pets.
Most pet owners find their pets recover quickly after an amputation surgery. Your veterinarian will administer painkillers both pre and post surgery to mitigate discomfort, while an Elizabethan collar may be placed around his or her neck to keep your pet from licking or chewing at the surgical site which could introduce bacteria into his system and lead to an infection.
4. Paralysis
Dog attacks can leave victims suffering severe injuries that prevent movement or sensation, often leaving visible scars behind. But those wounds may also inhibit function in areas that aren’t immediately obvious – potentially impairing function in parts of their bodies that might otherwise remain healthy.
Paralysis is a symptom of many conditions affecting muscles and nerves. It may be short-term such as sleep paralysis, or long-term such as muscular dystrophy and certain forms of cancer.
If you experience paralysis symptoms, it’s vital that you seek medical advice immediately as these could be symptoms of something more serious that requires hospital treatment. Your physician can advise the best course of treatment options available for your situation.
5. PTSD
Dog attacks often leave victims with long-term psychological injuries, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Depending on the severity of the attack, this can have life-changing repercussions.
Victims may experience nightmares and become easily startled; they might also have difficulty trusting people; and may avoid situations or places that remind them of the attack, such as pet stores or homes with animals as reminders.
Traumatized survivors of dog bite injuries can develop hypervigilance, an overly sensitive sense of danger that easily startles them and keeps them alert for threats even in seemingly safe environments such as coffee shops.
Cynophobia, the extreme fear of dogs, may also be an indicator of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), having an adverse impact on victim quality of life by making it hard to enjoy walks in parks or visit family members who own pups.