Dog bites in children are common as they are often not careful to stay away from an aggressive or confused dog. They may try to get close and play with the animal, but the dog could attack to defend its puppies or a plaything. You need to teach your child how to deal with dogs, even a pet. Read this post to know what to do if a child is bitten by a dog, the right time to seek medical assistance, and preventive measures.
What To Do After A Dog Bite?
First aid for dog bites
In younger children, dogs mostly attack their legs, which are easily reachable. Give first aid based on how severe the wound is: It is best to take your child to a doctor as soon as possible after a dog bite, minor or otherwise. Once the first aid is done, check for the following information to help treat the child.
If you know the owner of the dog, ask them if the dog has been given important vaccinations, including one for rabies. Know if the dog was provoked to bite, or the action was unprovoked. Give first aid to your child before taking them to a doctor.
When Should You Visit The Doctor?
See the doctor if:
Your child has redness, swelling, pain, or irritation. You don’t know if the dog has infections or if it is vaccinated. The wound is in your child’s face or neck. The wound looks deep. The skin is punctured, posing a danger of bacterial infection. You are unable to stop bleeding after applying pressure for about ten minutes.
The doctor will ask you questions about the dog before they begin treatment.
What Is The Treatment For Dog Bites?
The treatment will most likely include the below steps:
Sponge the area to clean away any dust or dirt. Wash the cavity copiously with clean water, preferably running water from a tap. Culture wounds if they are infected. Remove devitalized tissue. Keep the punctured wounds open. Your doctor might prescribe antibiotics if there is a chance of infection. The doctor might also advise review of the wound within 24-48 hours to look for the signs of infection. Injuries on the hands and feet are managed in consultation with a surgeon (2).
The doctor will also decide whether to give tetanus injection and/ or and/or rabies immunoglobulin to your child. So, why do dogs bite? And can you prevent it?
Why Do Dogs Bite?
Dogs usually bite as a reaction to something (3):
If they are infected with rabies, they might bite without reason If they find themselves in a stressful situation To defend themselves If they are scared, startled, or feel threatened
To protect something, which is important to them, like puppies, food, or a toy When they are sick and want to be left alone If they are overly excited while playing
Therefore, teach your child to understand the mood of the dog before going near or playing with a dog. Also, you need to take some other measures to prevent dog bites.
What To Do If The Family Dog Bites?
Follow the procedure mentioned in the treatment section. In addition to that, analyze the reasons as to why the dog has bitten the child. Also, observe the dog for ten days for any symptoms of rabies.
When an unprovoked dog bites,
The dog must have bitten unintentionally while playing with the kid. It may not be doing it again. Do not try to discipline your dog long after the incident because it cannot associate getting disciplined to something it has done in the past. If your dog remembers biting you, it may show signs of submission like bringing ears, tail, and head down. Practice no talk, no-touch, and no eye contact for a while and stay calm.
When the dog bites intentionally,
If your dog is nipping without any apparent reason, you should consult a veterinarian as it may be due to some pain or hidden injury. If there are no medical causes, then look for reasons that are agitating the dog. Make sure it is not a reaction to some irritation caused by your child. Work with your dog and a professional trainer, if needed, to eliminate aggression by establishing rules, boundaries, and limitations for the dog. While doing this, keep your child away from the dog.
How To Prevent Dog Bites?
Here are some ways that might help in preventing dog bites.
If the dog yawns, puts ears back, or raises a paw, it means the dog is worried about something. When a dog places its tail under its belly or between the legs, lies down with a leg up or stares at you with a stiffened body, it must be feeling threatened. And if the dog growls or snaps, it is in a bad mood and wants to be left alone.
When you are teaching children about dog bite prevention and how to be safe, discuss animals and the need to treat them with respect and love. If you are getting a pet home, put some dos and don’ts in place, and be mindful of how young children in the family interact with it. In spite of all your preventive measures, you may not be able to stop a vagarious dog from biting the child.
Vaccinations To Prevent Infection From Dog Bites
A dog bite can be colonized with bacteria from the animal’s mouth. So, your doctor may recommend prophylactic therapy for three to five days, which would be initiated within 12-24 hours of the injury. Here are a few injections that your child may need.
Tetanus Shot After A Dog Bite
A tetanus shot is usually not given for dog bites, unless the wound seems to be contaminated with soil, and when the child’s vaccination is incomplete. The tetanus infection is caused by Clostridium Tetani bacteria, which is mostly found in soil. It results in stiffness of the jaw, neck or abdominal muscles, and painful body spasms. It is a rare but harmful disease. So, if the dog bite is deep and appears contaminated, the doctor would examine your child’s vaccination history and treat accordingly. One can prevent tetanus by taking tetanus shots. Your child might need a tetanus shot if:
They have never taken the primary vaccination. When the child has not been vaccinated within ten years (4).
Rabies Shot After A Dog Bite
The chances of rabies infection might be high after a dog’s bite, if the dog has not been vaccinated or if its vaccination history is unknown. During such situations, your doctor might prescribe a series of rabies injections taken on specific days over a period. Rabies is a zoonotic disease, transmitted to humans from animals. Domestic dogs are the most common carriers of the rabies virus. The disease is almost always fatal in humans. It begins with no symptoms but gradually causes fatigue, headache, pain, and irritability. It then leads to severe symptoms such as seizures, hallucinations, and paralysis (5).
When To Get a Rabies Injection?
A preventive rabies vaccine is given to those who are likely to be exposed to the disease, and your child may not fall into this category unless you are traveling to an international destination. A post-exposure rabies vaccine is given if:
The child has not received the injection previously. The doctor finds it necessary to give it. You do not know anything about the dog that bit the child (here, too, the doctor will examine the wound before giving the injection).
The post-exposure vaccine has four doses — one dose given immediately after the bite, and the remaining on the third, seventh, and 14th days. In some cases, it could be five doses, administered on days 0, 3, 7, 14, and 28 (6). A rabies immunoglobulin shot is also given along with the first dose (7).
