Dog bites are accidents to which any of us can be exposed, however despite how often it occurs to people, most of us don't know what to do if we are bitten by a dog. This wound, which can range from superficial to serious, must be taken care of appropriately and immediately by following certain steps, so on OneHowTo.com we explain in detail what to do if you are bitten by a dog.
It is logical that a dog bite causes us great stress and nervousness, but the first recommendation we give you is to keep calm and collect the information you need to know about the animal. Depending on the type of dog that has bitten you should take some steps:
- If you know the dog owner you should question him about vaccines the dog has had and its state of health. It is important to know if it has been vaccinated against rabies, if it has a disease and if all other vaccinations are in order. Gather all this information together with the number of the attending veterinarian so you can confirm this information.
- If the dog is yours, you should already know this information and be able to tell your doctor.
- If the dog is a stray or you have not been able to identify its owner, it is important to tell your physician.
Once you've got all the information about the dog, you should go to the emergency for treatment as soon as possible. A doctor should review the bite to assess it properly, and try to prevent the spread of any disease. It is at this stage that you must provide your doctor with all the information about the dog, as bites from healthy dogs with all their vaccinations are not the same as bites from strays that have never been vaccinated.
If the dog which bit you hasn't had all the appropriate vaccinations, or if it was a stray the doctor is likely to suggest treatment to prevent rabies that you must follow to the letter.
What's more, it's important that after the dog bite has been seen by a doctor, you head to the department of animal protection in your city to report it regardless of whether you were bitten by someone's dog or a stray.
An aggressive animal or one that could have rabies represents a danger to society, therefore the department of animal protection will review the dog, monitor safety measures taken by the owner to take him out for a walk or at home, and make sure all is well with the animal. The owner could be fined if they have broken the law. If you are a dog owner make sure you take the necessary measures to prevent rabies in your dog.
If you were bitten by a stray or do not know who the owner was, it is important to inform the authorities where you last saw the dog and its appearance so a member of the department of animal protection can go get it and find it, check its health and take any necessary measures.
It is important to know if the dog that bit you has an owner, because you can claim financial compensation for damages to be determined by mutual agreement or by law, depending on the case.
This article is merely informative, oneHOWTO does not have the authority to prescribe any medical treatments or create a diagnosis. We invite you to visit your doctor if you have any type of condition or pain.
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