Dealing With A Dog Bite In Your Child - Things To Do

A dog is a man’s best friend and we all sure love to play with them and cuddle them, while receiving their love in return through a wagging tail. Dogs bring the joy in us, but at times they can invite a lot of troubles too. The worst thing that a dog can do is bite someone and the scenario becomes a horrific one if a dog has bitten your child. Usually dogs bite people they know, leading to minor or major injuries at times, depending up on the intensity of the bite.

What To Do If A Dog Bites Your Child?

You can provide first aid at home but if an unfamiliar dog has bitten your child, it is essential to seek medical intervention on an immediate basis. Despite offering first aid at home, if the bleeding hasn’t receded, your child must be taken to the doctor. Along with bleeding, redness, swelling in the affected area and pus can also be accompanied that need to be treated with the right antibiotics. Here are some common dog bite injuries that your child can confront if a dog has bitten him/her-

1. Lacerations:

   When a dog bites an individual, the teeth can puncture the skin. These lacerations can be severe depending up on the intensity of tugging and pulling. Tear injuries can result in blood loss and the child might get unconscious

2. Infections:

   Dog bites can invite foreign substances in to the victim’s body, leading to infections

3. Nerve damage:

   The amount of force a dog uses in biting a victim can also lead to temporary or permanent nerve damage. Muscle tendons and ligaments can tear up, making the victim unable to move the affected body part properly

Dog Bite Treatment

If a dog has bitten your child, here are the following steps you can follow in order to give him/her immediate treatment in order to avoid the worst-

• Press the wound gently in order to cause some bleeding so bacteria can pass away with the blood flow
• Wash the wound with a mild soap and water
• If you have an antibiotic cream, apply it right away over the wound
• Once your doctor has examined the wound, change the bandage several times a day
• Watch out for signs of infection such as redness, swelling, increased pain and fever

Since dog bites can be serious in some cases, here are the following dog bite vaccination that you need your child to get-

1. Antibiotics will reduce the infection to some extent if the bite isn’t too deep. Antibiotics if the first thing that your child will require on an immediate basis after a dog bite
2. Tetanus immunization must be given to your child to avoid any life threatening infections
3. If the dog that bit your child is affected with rabies then your child will need immediate rabies immunization to prevent the spread of infection
4. Some wounds may be stitched up after a few hours of a dog bite while some may be left open to drain the wound or the pus, covered with a dressing for daily examination of any infection

Here are some dog bite prevention techniques that you can teach your child-

1. Teach your child to avoid unknown dogs, which are not under supervision and consider leaving the area quickly
2. If a dog is with the owner, teach your child to ask for permission of the owner before petting or playing with the dog
3. Teach children to avoid escalating the situation by yelling, running, hitting or making sudden movements toward the dog
4. Teach your child that if a dog is resting in his/her place, not to threaten them and allow it to be in peace
5. Teach your child never to pull a dog’s ears, tail or try to get on top of him/her for a ride
6. Teach your child to leave the dog alone when he/she is eating or sleeping
7. As a parent you need to report a stray or loose dog in your locality

These are the various ways in which you can prevent a dog bite and if a dog has bitten your child, you will now know what measures to take after reading this blog.

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