Human beings have enjoyed a centuries-long relationship with dogs yet dog bites occur more frequently than people usually believe. Each year approximately 4.7 million Americans fall victim to dog bites although many of those victims belong to male children between the ages of 5 to 9. A dog bite demands immediate medical care to stop infections and minimize damage as well as decrease scarring. Only board-certified physical medicine specialists help all patients including dog bite victims who need medical evaluation to enable medical and legal teamwork for compensation.
What steps should be taken following a dog bite attack whether it affects you personally or your child. The need for immediate medical help depends on how severe the bite is and how the dog’s condition currently stands.
You should seek medical help simultaneously while a different person tries to locate the dog owner. Seek help from animal control to capture the unknown dog if animal control ownership remains undetermined. Tracking down the dog becomes necessary because you need further medical treatment in cases where the dog has rabies. Filing a personal injury suit requires comprehensive information about the dog because you need all possible details about it. At the medical facility present all bite-related information to the staff to enable proper testing. Surgery accompanied by stitches may become necessary based on the severity of your wound which requires additional treatment besides antibiotics and first aid. The need for additional vaccination against rabies exists if the dog proves rabid to medical tests. Your care provider will allow you home when they confirm your readiness and then you must handle your pain while protecting against possible infection. You must file the claim or make contact with dog bite injury lawyer.
Five tips for a smooth recovery from a dog bite
A dog bite produces a terrible combination of confusion along with extreme emotional distress. No matter the circumstances exist you should follow these recovery guidelines to achieve proper wound healing.
Wash the wound with mild soap and water followed by application of sterile bandages each time you apply new dressing.
You should always follow prescribed antibiotic treatments and other medications exactly as your doctor instructs. Every infection risk and medical complication arises from skipping your prescribed treatment.
Health professionals must examine any rise in temperature or swelling and redness or rashes together with pus as potential signs of infection. You should seek medical advice from your doctor if you suspect an infection developed from a bite wound. Upon experiencing either a high temperature or confusion after an animal bite then you must immediately talk to a doctor.
A doctor needs to check your wound whenever it proves difficult to heal properly. You should seek medical help if medical treatment requirements change because your doctor will make necessary adjustments for your safety. Meanwhile must contact with dog bite injury lawyer to file a claim.
The intensity of your discomfort will subside with the passage of time. Seek medical assistance immediately whenever your symptoms become worse so you might need more advanced care or if they start disrupting your normal sleep patterns.
Future dog bite prevention requires both caution when meeting strange dogs along with never disturbing an animal regardless of their familiarity. Make an effort to understand simple canine communication because you should always honor their warning signs when they show teeth or growl. If you have children, make sure to teach them the same, especially if you have a rowdy child that likes to play rough or tease animals. Showing respect for animals will greatly reduce the chances of an aggressive encounter.