Dog Bite Treatment For Humans
While comrades of the canine variety are often referred to as man’s best friend, they have been occasionally known to bite the hand that feeds them. Whether it be a puppy who’s merely teething and still hasn’t figured this whole biting thing out yet, an older dog who is overly playful or angered and nips hard, or an unknown dog that could have rabies or any number of unknown diseases, it is important to know just what to do if you have been bitten and how to take care of the wound. While most cases shouldn’t require a visit to the hospital, you should always take special care with an open wound from 
a dog bite.
When bit by a dog, more often than not, we wind up with a superficial scrape instead of a deeper gash or puncture wound. For the most part, we ignore these, writing them off as part and parcel of playing with dogs and knowing they will heal rather quickly. While this is true, it is still important to take the proper precautions and clean out the wound, first with running water, then with either hydrogen peroxide or isopropyl alcohol to clear out any infections. Finish up the process by spreading a topical antibiotic over the cut and covering it up with a bandage.
Serious Dog Bites And How To Handle Them
If you have the unfortunate displeasure of receiving a more sizable puncture wound from a dog’s teeth, you may need to be even more cautious. If the wound is gushing profusely or is in the head/neck region, or if you are bit by a strange dog that may or may not have a disease, call 911 immediately to make sure that you receive the proper care. However, barring those circumstances, you should be fine with self care. First, do not be afraid to let the wound bleed for about five minutes or so before moving on to the next step; allowing it to bleed will clean out most debris from the gash. After the five minutes, see if you can stop the bleeding through the application of direct pressure. If it stops, clean the cut by running it under water with some mild soap for a couple of minutes. Do not use hydrogen peroxide or isopropyl alcohol for a puncture wound, as this can impede the healing process. Finally, you can bandage the puncture if you like, but this is not required for healing to take place.
If you are bitten by someone else’s dog, you may be within your rights to receive compensation for the damages incurred. Contact your local mesa injury lawyer quickly after being bitten so that they can act as your negotiator with the dog owner’s insurance company or in any necessary litigation. The sooner you call your attorney, the sooner an investigation can begin to establish liability for the bite and determine whether insurance coverage will apply in this case or not.
