A dog bite can be painful and dangerous. It is said that roughly 20,000 deaths in India occur due to rabies through dog bites. Dog bites aren't just as rare as you think. In fact, sometimes you can get surprised by a bite from your own dog. But whether it's your pet or a stray dog, what should you do if you're bitten by a dog? Well, we've got the answer you're looking for.
TREATING A DOG BITE
If you've been bitten by a dog, it's important to treat the wound right away to reduce your risk of bacterial infection such as rabies, a life-threatening infection. In some instances, you'll be able to administer first aid to yourself. In other cases, you'll need immediate medical treatment. But remember, it's very important to see a doctor if an unfamiliar dog, for example, a stray dog, bit you, the bite is deep, you can't stop the bleeding or there are any signs of infection (redness, swelling, warmth, pus). Dog bites can cause infections that need to be treated by the doctor.
HERE'S A GENERAL BUT IMPORTANT PROTOCOL TO FOLLOW IN CASE OF A DOG BITE
Step 1: Remain calm and the first thing you should do following a dog bite is to put distance between yourself and the dog. This will reduce the chances of dog bite again.
Step 2: Then, wash the wound with warm water and soap carefully.
Step 3: Try to stop the bleeding with clean cloth by gently pressing down to stop the flow
Step 4: When the bleeding stops, apply an antibacterial lotion or ointment to the area as a precaution.
Step 5: Keep the wound bandaged.
Step 6: Watch the signs of infection, including redness, swelling, increased pain, fever, and pus.
No matter what, you should go to the doctor after a dog bite. Young, old must go to doctor
WHAT WILL A DOCTOR DO?
1. Your doctor will examine the injury to see whether the bite was deep enough to damage muscle, tendons, nerves, and bones.
2. Then the doctor will thoroughly clean your bite wound.
3. Your doctor will take measures to prevent the infection and if the dog's health status is unknown or if the dog tests positive for rabies, you will need to get a rabies vaccine which is a total of 5 injections.
4. The doctor will also make sure that you're up to date on your tetanus shot or not.
5. You need to take antibiotics for the period (basically for two weeks) recommended by the doctor to prevent or treat the infection.
6. The doctor may ask you to come back in one to three days to have the injury rechecked.
The treatment provided by the doctor depends on the severity of the bite and the victim’s overall health to treat the dog bite.
Now after you know the steps to deal with a dog bite, share these steps with your family and friends and help India to become a rabies free country.
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