Bite wounds in dogs - a veterinary emergency!

What are the symptoms of dog bite?

In the event of a dog bite, lesions can take several forms, ranging from a simple superficial scratch to a serious cutaneous and muscular breach.

The clinical signs of a bite also depend largely on the time of the accident. A wound that is more than 24 hours old will not look the same as one that is 2 hours old.

Here are the main symptoms that may indicate a dog bite on your pet:

1. Scratching of the skin, scratching linked to a fang, etc.
2. One or more puncture wounds (in the shape of a hole)
3. Skin tear, more or less deep

Each of these wounds may be accompanied by more or less profuse bleeding, depending on the depth of the bite and the damage and vascularity of the bitten area.

In the event of an infected bite wound, your dog may also present the following general symptoms:

1. Fever (hyperthermia above 104°F)
2. Nauseating odour from the wound linked to the infection.
3. Pus in the bite area.
4. Acute pain linked to muscle bruising.
5. Fatigue and dejection linked to shock and pain.

What should I do if my dog has beeb bitten by another one?

If your dog has been bitten by another dog, you can carry out some of the first aid procedures.

To do this, take your pet's first aid kit with you, and we'll guide you through what to do.

If the wound is recent (less than 2 hours old):

1. use woven compresses and a chlorhexidine-based disinfectant to dab and clean the wound.

If the bite is old (more than 12 hours old):

1. first use an antiseptic soap to clean the wound by lathering.
2. Rinse and dry the wound with dry compresses.
3. Clean again with a chlorhexidine-based disinfectant spray.

If the bite wound bleeds:

1. Using a compress, apply constant, firm pressure to the presumed site of bleeding to achieve compression and promote haemostasis (clot formation).
2. To maintain the compression, you can bandage the wound, taking care not to tighten it too much so as not to cause a tourniquet effect.

Once this first aid has been administered, contact us immediately on 033 0027 0670 to arrange for your dog to be treated by our vets on call. If you are in any doubt about how to proceed, remember that our emergency call centre teams are there to help you manage the accident. We can help !

Why a dag bite could be a veterinary emergency?

Dog bites are veterinary emergencies for a number of reasons:

1. The bite may require stitches: over 1cm in length, a wound must be closed to allow it to heal in the best possible conditions. The earlier the suture is done after the bite, the cleaner the wound will be and it will be possible to treat it with surgical staples or sutures.
2. The bite causes severe pain: muscle contusions, skin tears and tissue crushing are the source of acute pain in bitten dogs. It is not reasonable to let an animal suffer. That's why we strongly advise you to take your dog to a veterinary emergency department.
3. The bite may bleed profusely: haemorrhaging from a bite wound is a factor that aggravates the injury. Containing the bleeding quickly is essential for rapid healing.
4. The bite may affect critical areas of the body: a bite on the neck is critical because of the presence of large blood vessels, the carotid and jugular arteries. The same applies to a bite to the chest, which can lead to damage to the pleura and the formation of a pneumothorax.

For all these reasons, dog bites should be reported to a doctor as an emergency. In London, our home vets can provide effective treatment in your own home, and can even suture less serious wounds.

Care provided by the vet

In addition to local wound care, the vet will determine whether medical treatment is required:

1. Antibiotics for 10 to 20 days on infected bites
2. Anti-inflammatory medication for the most painful and congestive bites
3. Analgesics to treat pain and improve your pet's comfort

Additional Measures for Handling Dog Bites

Rabies Awareness

You should also not overlook the possibility of rabies transmission through dog bites. This deadly disease can infect humans via saliva from an infected dog entering open cuts or skin breaks. Symptoms of rabies typically appear 2-8 weeks after being bitten but without any treatment; it can become fatal to dogs and humans alike.

Behavioral Training

Determining the reason behind why the dog bit in the first place and addressing them should be high on your priority list. Consult a professional dog trainer, behaviorist, or a veterinarian with experience in canine behavior to establish the root cause and develop a plan that aims to correct these undesirable actions before they resurface.

Preventing Dog Bites

To prevent dog bites, you can follow these basic tips to keep your pet in good health:

1. Keep your dog on a lead: during walks, whether or not other dogs are present, keep your dog on a lead. In this way, you can prevent your dog's divavgation and temptation to fight with other dogs.
2. Wearing a muzzle: for the most aggressive animals, wearing a muzzle is essential, and even compulsory for certain breeds of dangerous dog.