The bite of a stray dog requires immediate medical attention, even if, as a result of the attack of the animal, only superficial damage or scratches remain. The doctor should clean and bandage the wound and, most importantly, administer tetanus vaccine and prevent rabies.

What to do after a dog bite and what first aid should look like, says family medicine doctor Kristina Shevchenko.

Aggressive dog: how to react

To minimize the risks of dog bites, you need to remember what an aggressive animal can look like. And so, if the dog is in the stage of aggression, you can see how the animal has a tense body, bristling hair, raised tail, skinned teeth and growls - then you need to be careful and not react too impulsively. In this case, try not to make sudden movements, much less shout or wave your hands - all this is perceived by the animal as an act of aggression in its direction. Running in such a situation is also impractical.

In the event of a close collision with an aggressive dog, you should not look into his eyes - it is best to remain motionless on the ground, covering your neck with your hands. This position allows you to cover your face and reduce the effects of a possible dog bite.

Dogs are the main source of human death from rabies, accounting for up to 99% of all cases of transmission of this disease to humans. Rabies can be prevented by vaccinating dogs and preventing animal bites.

First aid after a dog bite

The most important element of first aid in case of a bite is proper wound treatment - cleaning the bite site reduces the likelihood of developing rabies by almost 90%. First, the wound should be thoroughly washed with running water and soap, preferably antibacterial, and then disinfected with hydrogen peroxide, chlorhexidine or an alcohol-based product. Skin damage cleaned in this way should be additionally closed with a sterile dressing.

What if you are bitten by a dog and don't have access to water or disinfectants? The main task is to clean the wound from the saliva of the animal, for this the bite should be lightly pressed and allow a small amount of blood to drain. After that, it is imperative to consult a doctor, as stitches, antibiotics or injections may be required.

If the bleeding lasts more than a few minutes, is abundant, and the color of the blood is bright red, you should go to the traumatologist in the nearest emergency room as soon as possible.

What to do after a dog bite, and how is the treatment

After the wound is treated and a sterile dressing is applied, you should consult with your doctor and find out the need for tetanus vaccination - if the last vaccination was done within the last 5 years, the bitten is adequately protected and vaccination can be refused. Otherwise, the bitten should be vaccinated against tetanus.

After a bite, rabies vaccination may also be required - this is decided by the doctor on the basis of the bite history and data on the local epidemiological situation; Sometimes antibiotic therapy is also indicated.

A wound after a dog bite can swell and hurt. Returning home, you should observe the healing process and consult a doctor immediately if something bothers. It is also recommended to regularly change dressings and use medications prescribed by a doctor.

Unfortunately, wounds after being bitten by a dog heal hard and long, especially torn, so you need to be patient, as well as follow all the recommendations of the doctor.

Complications after a dog bite

There are pathogenic microorganisms in the dog's mouth, which is why even a minor bite by this animal can lead to the development of many different diseases in humans.

One of the risks after a dog bite is tetanus, an acute disease that carries the risk of death. The bitten person can also develop gas gangrene with necrotizing inflammation of the soft tissues, and in case of reduced immunity, even sepsis, which can be fatal.

However, the most dangerous disease transmitted from dogs is rabies - a deadly disease for both humans and animals. However, it must be clearly emphasized that a regularly vaccinated dog does not get sick and does not pose a threat to humans.

Dog bite — how to prevent

Dogs most often bite when they feel threatened, so you should not give them a reason to attack.

Having met a dog on your way, follow these rules:

• Do not approach or pet a dog unless its owner is nearby.
• Avoid close contact with your dog behind the fence.
• Do not pet your dog while eating.
• Do not approach a dog with puppies next to it.
• Try to avoid eye contact with the dog.

And no matter how unpleasant it may sound, remember that the responsibility for the aggressive behavior of a dog often lies with the person - the owner of the animal or the bitten!

What to do if bitten by a dog

After first aid and dressing the wound after a bite, it is necessary to collect reliable information about the dog. A conversation with its owner or curator should first of all dispel doubts about the current vaccination of an animal against rabies. But, most often bites a stray dog, which cannot be caught and conducted research on the presence of rabies. In this case, immediately after the bite, you should go to a medical facility to protect yourself from the potential risk of rabies infection. If the vaccine and the corresponding antibodies are not administered before the first symptoms appear (nervousness, headache, lack of appetite, tingling at the wound site), encephalitis and inflammation of the spinal cord occur, which is fatal.

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