What to Do When a Dog Bites

Dog bites and attacks are extremely common. Unfortunately there are approximately 800,000 dog bite victims every year that require some form of medical attention while a large number of other dog bites actually go untreated. What most people don’t know, is that approximately a dozen people die every year just from severe dog bite injuries. So if you’re a dog owner it’s important that you know exactly what to do if your dog bites someone or if you are bitten by another person’s dog.

What to Do if Your Dog Bites Someone

Regardless as to whether or not a dog bite can be explained (for example: someone stepped on your dog’s tail), it is important that you take responsibility of your dog’s actions. These next few steps can help you:
• Immediately take hold and restrain your dog. Make it a point to separate it from where the scene of the attack happened. Confine the dog right away.
• Be sure to check on the victim’s condition as soon as possible. Cleanse the wounds with soap and water. Professional medical attention should be sought to evaluate the bite wounds since unseen damage, complications, infections and even rabies can occur.
• Information like your name, address and your dog’s most recent rabies vaccination should be provided. The dog may need to be quarantined if it does not have a current rabies vaccination. It is possible that the person bitten might need to complete a treatment called post-exposure prophylaxis.
• Stay within compliance of local ordinances when it comes to reporting dog bites.
• Meet with your veterinarian for any advice that can help you with your dog’s behavior to help prevent any other similar problems from happening in the future.

What to Do if You are Bitten

• If it is your own dog has bitten you, be sure to confine it as soon as possible and make it a point to contact your veterinarian to verify your dog’s vaccination records. They can also inspect your dog’s health and provide you with advice to help you with preventative training.
• If another dog that does not belong to you has bitten you, immediately seek medical treatment for your wounds. The next thing you should do is contact local authorities to report everything you can about the dog. This information should include: the owner’s name if you know it; color and size of dog; where the incident occurred; and where you might have seen it before. These details make it easier for animal-control officers to locate the offending dog.