Even the most friendly dog can bite. Whether it is a random dog on the street or your neighbor’s dog that you have known all its life, there is always a lingering risk.
While you may have the right to legal action after your dog bite experience, it is important to know what to do in that exact moment. According to the Cleveland Clinic, the biggest danger related to dog bites is infection.
Preventing infection immediately after the bite
The first step is to thoroughly clean the wound. You should do this by taking a mild soap and running lukewarm water over the wound for between 5 to 10 minutes. You will want to do this thoroughly to rinse out any lingering saliva in the wound.
Once you have done this, you can use a clean cloth to slow any bleeding and then use an antibiotic cream if you have one. After this, wrap the wound in a bandage large enough to fully cover it. Finally, you should immediately call your doctor.
Talking to the doctor
The doctor will ask you several questions about what happened during the dog bite incident. It is likely that the doctor will ask you about the dog itself. During your visit, the doctor will once again clean the wound and prescribe some antibiotics if the doctor believes you are at risk for infection.
Depending on your situation, you may also need to get a tetanus booster if you have not within the last 10 years. This is particularly important if your wound was or is extremely dirty. You may also need stitches if the wound is deep.