Before giving first aid, wash
your hands thoroughly. Wear latex gloves if
available.
Wash the dog bite wound completely with
soap and water.
Keep injured body parts raised
above the level of the heart. This slows
swelling and prevents infection.
Apply pressure with a clean
bandage, towel, or piece of clothing to stop any
bleeding.
Cover dog bite wounds with
sterile bandages.
Talk calmly to the injured person
to help keep him or her from going into shock.
If you need to call 911,
remember:
Do not hang up until the
operator tells you.
Give your name and the name
and age of the injured person.
Give your location.
(Town, street, nearby streets, closest house
number.)
Identify the dog by breed,
color and size. Give the dog's name and
owner's name, if known.
Give the number of the phone
that you are calling from.
Get Medical
Attention.
Dog bites easily become
infected. Check with a doctor immediately to
see if a tetanus shot or antibiotics are needed.
Return to the doctor if you
notice any of these signs of infection:
Swelling.
Redness.
Pain or tenderness.
Fever
Pus draining from the wound.
Identify the Dog.
Advise the dog's owner, if known,
that the dog attacked. Ask for the name and
telephone number of the dog's veterinarian.
If the dog is unfamiliar, try to
keep it in sight until the police or an animal
warden arrives. However, do not approach a
strange dog or try to capture it.
If you lose sight of an
unfamiliar dog, write down a description including
breed, color, markings, size and style of any
collar. Note down the last place the dog was
seen.
Be Aware of the
Possibility of Rabies.
The chances of getting rabies
from a dog bite are very small. However,
rabies, if not immediately treated, is usually
fatal.
Your doctor will advise you if
rabies shots are required. If shots are
required, do not miss or be late for shots.
A dog may have rabies if it is
very aggressive, attacks without provocation, or
acts strangely.
If the dog cannot be found or its
rabies status is unknown, rabies shots may be
required.
Report the Attack
to the Animal Warden or to the Police.
A dog that attacks may attack
again.
The dog may have a history of
prior attacks.
The animal warden or police can
best arrange for the quarantine (holding under
observation) of the dog. Quarantining may be
necessary to make sure the dog does not have
rabies.
