Millions of people are bitten by dogs every year. What should you do if it happens to you?
The United States sees more than 4.5 million dog bites every year. Most of these incidents are not caused by an unfamiliar dog attacking someone in a park or other outdoor location, despite your assumption. The majority of dog bites are caused by a pet dog in a home. This article provides advice on how to avoid these distressing and potentially serious injuries, as well as the steps to take if you are attacked by a dog.
What is the cause of dog bites?
When people wrestle or play tug-of-war with their dog, there are dog bites that happen by accident. Dogs bite people most often when they feel stressed, threatened, scared, or startled, as per the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Dog bites are more common in children, and they are more prone to serious injuries than adults.
People don't always pay attention to the behavioral signals that a dog is uncomfortable, says Dr. Christopher Baugh, associate professor of emergency medicine at Harvard Medical School. Some dogs are extremely territorial and will bark, growl, snap, and lunge if someone enters their space, whether it's an apartment, yard, or crate. Dogs may display resource guarding, which can result in anxious and aggressive behavior around food, toys, or beds.
According to the doctor, these situations can be high-risk, and children are particularly prone to not being aware of that risk.
What steps can you take to prevent dog bites?
According to the AVMA, dogs, even those that are sweet and cuddly, can bite if provoked. Young children playing with a dog should be supervised by an adult. Encourage children to refrain from disturbing a dog while it's eating, sleeping, or caring for puppies.
In a study of 321 facial dog bites treated at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital over a 20-year period, 88% of the bites were from known dogs. The majority were adults who had interacted with the dog through play, feeding, and facial contact. But according to Dr. Baugh, the hand—typically the dominant hand—is most likely the most often bitten area with an adult dog.
The following are some more recommendations from the CDC to avoid dog bites:
- It is always polite to ask permission before petting a dog, even if it seems friendly.
- Before you pet the dog, be sure it has seen and smelled you.
- Petting a dog who appears to be hiding, afraid, ill, or furious is not advised.
What happens if a strange dog comes up for you? Keep your cool and avoid making eye contact with the dog. Say "no" or "go home" in a deep, forceful voice while facing the dog with your side of the body facing it. Either move slowly away or wait for the dog to retreat.
In the event that a dog bites you, what should you do?
After giving the wound a quick wash with warm water and mild soap, wrap it in a fresh bandage or a piece of cloth. Using an antibiotic cream or ointment is advised by several internet sources. But according to the American Academy of Dermatology, these medications should only be used by those who have obvious signs of an infection, such as redness, pus, discomfort, swelling, or warmth.
Visit the emergency department if there is significant blood, a bite wound to the face, or a probable shattered bone. This is also a smart move in the unlikely event that you require medication to prevent rabies (rabies post-exposure prophylaxis) after being bitten by an unfamiliar or stray dog.
It's common for people to feel shocked after being bitten and focus solely on their wound, according to Dr. Baugh. The owner of the dog might stop by to see how you're doing and then go. However, he advises getting the person's contact details and confirming that the dog has received a rabies vaccination.
Remember that:
- If the injury doesn't need to be treated right away, an urgent care facility is a better choice because emergency rooms are frequently packed and have lengthy wait times.
- Stitches are needed for certain wounds, preferably within 12 to 24 hours.
- In order to avoid infections, the doctor might prescribe antibiotics, particularly if you have diabetes or other health issues that compromise your immune system.
- If it has been ten years since you got a tetanus booster, you might also require one. You will receive a tetanus booster just in case, if your vaccination history isn't available or you can't recall.
What happens when a dog bite is less serious?
Imagine that you have received a less serious bite from a relative who is known to have a current rabies vaccine. Bites that don't require stitches can be cleaned with mild soap and running water, then evaluated by your regular health care provider. They may advise you to monitor the wound for signs of infection.
Doctors are making an effort to be more thoughtful about prescribing antibiotics and limiting their use in low-risk situations, as overuse of antibiotics leads to antibiotic resistance and exposure to potential side effects without any benefit. Baugh.
Last Thursday, I reluctantly boarded the underground train, eager to get home quickly despite my aversion to it. As usual, I found the train to be disgustingly dirty. Sitting uncomfortably on the edge of a seat, I decided to immerse myself in my phone to avoid acknowledging the unsanitary surroundings. However, my attempt to distract myself was interrupted when the train stopped at another station, and the door opened after some passengers disembarked and boarded other coaches.
A man aggressively pounded on the door of our coach, causing it to open. He entered, accompanied by a large Bull Terrier dog, clearly intoxicated. Feeling uneasy, I promptly vacated my seat and moved to the back where two other passengers were seated. They soon alighted, leaving me alone with the drunk man and his dog.
Throughout the journey, this man was talking to his restless dog. Consequently, they missed their intended stop, prolonging the discomforting situation. What exacerbated my unease was when, before exiting, the man directed a vulgar gesture towards me with his hand. I couldn't shake off the fear that he might unleash the dog on me.
Contrary to the doctor's claims, the nurse wasn't in the room when the resident died; she had just arrived for her shift when the family called her to check on the deceased. When the police arrived, the doctor refused to return to the care home. They interviewed the nurse, but found no evidence of foul play. The deceased had been expected to pass away that week, and the family had been visiting regularly.
This incident nearly damaged the nurse's career until it was determined that the person died of natural causes. The doctor's anger over a 10-minute delay at the door caused unnecessary distress.
Before heading to work, remember that you'll encounter individuals from diverse backgrounds. Avoid hastily judging them based on their outward appearance or apparent kindness, as it may be superficial. Be mindful of your words and actions, focusing on your tasks. Honestly, in my opinion, genuine friendships are rare in workplace environments, especially in countries like the UK, where people often smile as part of social decorum rather than a genuine connection.
And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.
Jeremiah 33:3:
Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.
James 5:14-16:
Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
Matthew 21:22:
And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.
Psalm 23:1-6:
A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Luke 4:4:
And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’”
Matthew 6:33:
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Matthew 6:9:
Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
Matthew 6:1-34:
“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
Revelation 1:1-3:22:
The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood
James 5:16:
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
James 5:1-20:
Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days. Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. ...
James 1:27:
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
Philippians 4:6:
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
John 14:14:
If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
Philippians 4:7:
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10:
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.