Every time you go for a morning or evening run, you make yourself vulnerable to a possible dog bite or attack. Some pet owners are careless and don’t check the movement of their dogs. One moment you could be running along and the next thing you know, a dog bites you. Dogs bite for various reasons. Some might feel threatened by the running, or some are territorial. If you have never had a dog bite, you may not know what action to take or what to say to the owner of the dog.
What to do about the owner of the dog
You will be required to seek first aid treatment and speak to the doctor about what steps or precautions are needed. However, you need to deal with the owner if he is present during the dog attack. The owner will be facing police action, and possible jail or court fines for negligence and failing to prevent his dog from attacking other individuals. You should, therefore, take the contact information and report the matter to the police for immediate action.
Police on patrol will respond to your call immediately. You can as well consider contacting http://www.fightingforyou.com/locations/ where you will get a personal lawyer to handle other important issues as you seek help. The lawyer will be important in understanding whether the dog has been vaccinated for rabies, while at the same time, reporting the dog owner to the relevant authorities so that the dog can be prevented from biting other individuals.
What to do about the dog
Sometimes people forget about the dog and concentrate very much on treating their wounds and getting just compensation. In this case, you should contact the dog’s veterinarian who will conduct an assessment of the dog. By this time, the owner should have provided the proof of rabies vaccination.
The dog should be checked for other illnesses and infections. The vet will have to decide if the dog should be caged. If there is not enough proof that the owner of the dog will contain it in his home, an animal officer might take the dog and secure it in a stray animal area.
Dog bites treatment
ØFirst Aid Treatment
The first action that you should take after getting dog bites is ensuring that you gently press the wound so that you can ensure that all the bacteria and poisonous saliva that has been ‘injected’ in your body has been removed. This will prevent the bacteria from going further into your blood vessels and risk the aspect of reaching your heart where they will be spread to other parts of the body.
Holistic medicine requires that you slow the bleeding from the wound by cleaning it with a clean cloth. Excessive bleeding can cause severe health challenges and low supply of oxygen to other parts of the body. Make sure you are cleaning the wound with mild soap and water.
The final step before visiting the doctor for specialized treatment should include applying an over-the-counter cream that acts as an antibiotic. This will help in killing the bacteria on the surface of the wound while at the same time protecting the wound from foreign dust particles and other harmful materials that might aggravate the problem. You can go ahead and cover the wound with a sterile bandage.
ØAt the Hospital
Your doctor will be interested in knowing more about the dog and how it came to bite you. He will also offer primary treatment which will include cleaning the wound and will apply antibiotics such as Augmentin if he is concerned that there might be an infection. He will also go ahead and give you a booster shot, especially when your tetanus vaccine is out of date. In most of the cases, dog bites are left open so that they can heal with ease. However, in extreme cases where the injuries are significant, or on vital parts of the body, the doctor may recommend stitches.
Finally, keep running and have fun doing it, but be prepared for the possible time when a dog could bite. Following the guidelines above can help in such a situation.
