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What to do after a dog bite at home. Possible consequences of a bite

In Russia, annually, only registered dog bites when attacking a person is about two million cases. Moreover, in these statistics there are no those people who do not seek medical help.

In this publication, we will talk about what to do when a dog bites and how to provide first aid to an adult and a child if a domestic or stray dog has bitten an arm, leg, or finger.

Dog bites in terms of the nature of the damage resemble stab or lacerations. But... P With any type of bite, there is always a high probability of infection of the wound.

This can be explained by the fact that in the oral cavity (in the mouth) of any animal and person there is always a large number of pathogenic microorganisms and viruses. A dog's teeth are sharp, and when it bites, germs inevitably enter deep into the wound and then into the blood. In severe cases of attack on a person by dogs, a bitten adult or child may have more than one wound, but several, including bites to the face, hands, and legs.

Dog attacks on children are especially dangerous! Indeed, unlike an adult, a child cannot always defend himself from an attack, so his parents should always be on their guard if there is a domestic dog in the house. After all, she can not always be a friend. Especially in this regard, whelping females raising and feeding their offspring are dangerous.

If you keep a dog at home or came to visit where to keep an animal at home, you need to know and follow a number of rules for handling dogs.

Rules for handling a domestic dog

never leave a child alone with an unfamiliar dog, and even more so with several when you come to visit;
do not leave children at home alone with a domestic dog;
your child should never approach a strange dog;
if the dog does not respect (rather, you cannot completely control it yourself) the child - be afraid that she will someday attack him;
if the dog does not look into the eyes of a person, it can attack;
if a dog has bitten once, it will definitely bite again;
animals should never be approached if they are eating, fighting or grooming each other;
never let cats or dogs lick an open wound;
pets must be vaccinated against rabies.

When attacked by dogs

When a dog attacks a child or an adult, it is necessary, first of all, to drag or drive away the animal. Everything that can be obtained at hand is suitable for this: a stone, a stick, a picket fence, a bag, a mop, a trash can. Any dog bite should alert both parents and healthcare professionals. There are two types of bites: superficial and deep. Each type requires a different approach.

Biting Procedure: First Aid

Wound treatment

The bite site - the wound - must be washed with a warm soapy (laundry soap) solution for several minutes. Some experts suggest treating the wound itself with hydrogen peroxide.

It is worth using an antiseptic (potassium permanganate solution (pink solution), alcohol iodine solution, alcohol - no more than 70%) and treat the skin around the bite.

Dry the bite site and apply a sterile bandage.

In case of severe bleeding, it is necessary to take measures to stop it - use a tourniquet, a pressure bandage.

If the dog tore off some parts of the body - fingers, ears, etc., then it is necessary to pack the torn fragments into a clean plastic bag, cover the bag with ice, indicate the name of the victim on the bag and transfer it to the hospital.

If the dog is domestic

Given the likelihood of contracting rabies (which is almost always fatal if not treated), it is necessary to request a certificate from the owner of the dog about the dog's vaccinations.

If the dog is stray

Immediately inform the state veterinary service about the fact of an animal attack on a person. And to help specialists with information about the whereabouts of a sick animal to catch biters and place it in quarantine under veterinary sanitary supervision.

Be sure to contact the trauma center at the place of residence. The traumatologist will determine the damage from bites, provide medical assistance. It is necessary to know whether your child has been vaccinated against tetanus.

What Not to Do

Since the rabies virus targets the central nervous system (CNS) of a person, and the vaccination course is determined by the duration of the incubation period, which is 10–90 days, it is clear that it is unacceptable to help the virus by independently affecting the central nervous system. We are talking about the inadmissibility of the use of alcohol and other drugs that depress the central nervous system, thereby helping the rabies virus.

Especially dangerous are the bites of the fingers and face by animals infected with the rabies virus.

Folk remedies at home

I want to warn readers in advance that in cases where a dog has bitten, you need to do all of the above. And home folk remedies for use at home are given for purely informational purposes as an addition to the above. No one has canceled consultations of a surgeon, a traumatologist! Consult with them when treating dog bites.

When bitten by a dog or wolf, apply to the wound after initial treatment. gruel from the leaves of the meadowsweet or the leaves themselves.
An onion mashed with honey and vinegar and applied to a wound helps with dog bites.
When bitten by animals, apply pounded grass initials to the wound, lotions from sweet clover herbs or a decoction of cloves.
Mint, applied with salt, treats dog bites.

Tips and recipes for the treatment of dog bites from old folk healers:

In ancient folk healers, the following tips and recipes are given for the treatment of dog bites:

when bitten by a rabid dog, it is recommended to wash the wound with salt water and moisten with walnut oil until it heals. Walnut oil in this case is also used for internal use (1 tablespoon 3 times a day);
when bitten by rabid dogs, drink an infusion of immortelle inflorescences, 1 tablespoon three times a day;
according to traditional medicine, "vinegar, if given a pound in the morning and in the evening, cures hydrophobia most quickly and completely";
for any poisonous bites, the most useful remedy is to take a long steam bath in a Russian steam bath (any poisons and toxic substances come out with sweat);
nettle with salt (in the form of a lotion) cleanses contaminated wounds and helps with dog bites;
with bites of poisonous snakes, scorpions, and also with dog bites, garlic with honey helps, which is taken orally and put in the form of gruel on the wound.

Why is a dog bite dangerous?

More than 150 thousand Russians seek medical help every year after being attacked and bitten by dogs. Dozens of people are dying from rabies transmitted by dog bites. The number of cases of dog aggression increases in the summer, and people suffer more from pets than from homeless people. Most often, bites are received by adult men and children: babies of two to four years of age and adolescents of 10–14 years.

The worst of all are the bites of dogs of fighting and some service breeds: German Shepherds, Bull Terriers, Rottweilers, Pit Bulls, Dobermans. The bite force of these animals is very high and they cause serious damage.

A dog bite is an injury, the danger of which depends on many factors:

Bite forces - wounds can be different:
- superficial (stab), when the integrity of the skin is slightly disturbed; such injuries in the absence of complications heal quite quickly;
- torn, when the bites are much deeper - soft tissues can be torn, and in some especially severe cases, joints, bones, and ligamentous apparatus are damaged.
Bite sites: in adults, the legs (ankles) and arms (hands and forearms) are most often affected, dogs can bite children on the neck, face, head. The most dangerous is the damage in the neck and head, deep wounds in these places can be fatal.
Dog health conditions - with the saliva of an aggressive animal, various bacteria and viruses enter the wound, among which the rabies virus is the worst.

The most dangerous dog bites in the neck, head and face

Rabies is a serious disease that is transmitted through the saliva of a sick animal. The disease is terrible with a 100% fatal outcome. You can become infected with the virus not only when saliva enters a bitten wound, but also in the case of salivation of damaged skin or mucous membranes.

It is worth knowing that the virus is contained in the secretions of the animal 8-10 days before the visible symptoms of the disease. Therefore, with the bite of any dog, even seemingly healthy, it is necessary to contact a medical institution.

The fact that a dog is sick can be determined by its appearance and behavior:

salivation, foaming from the mouth;
sagging of the lower jaw;
vomiting
periodic convulsions;
a hoarse, muffled bark.

It is likely that an aggressive dog that droops, drools excessively, and has seizures has rabies.

The dog is excited, aggressive, ready to attack, can gnaw the ground or objects that have fallen into its field of vision.

What is the likelihood of contracting rabies from a sick animal? It directly depends on which part of the body the bite fell on. If the area of the neck or facial tissue is damaged, then the possibility of getting sick is very high and amounts to 90%. With a bite on the hand, the probability of infection is 50-60%, if the lower leg, shoulder or thigh is injured, then the percentage is even lower - about 20.

In addition to infection with rabies, after a bite, there is a high probability of developing tetanus, the causative agent of which can be present in the soil, on various objects and easily get into the wound. Tetanus is a disease whose prognosis is always disappointing.

In addition to the possibility of getting sick with tetanus or rabies, dog bites can carry the following consequences:

Significant blood loss if the wounds are very serious; large arteries may be torn or organs damaged, causing internal bleeding.
Wound infection - occurs in 15–20% of all bites; more often it is a local purulent-inflammatory process, in rare cases - systemic infection with the development of a formidable complication - sepsis. In the mouth of a dog, there are many different microorganisms that are pathogenic to humans. Once in the wound, microbes cause it to become infected. Depending on the type of pathogens that got into the wound and the state of the immune system of the victim, the time for the development of an inflammatory reaction varies from 8 to 24 hours.
Psychological trauma. An attack by an aggressive dog is especially dangerous for children, pregnant women and the elderly. Weak children, old people and women are not able to actively fight back the animal, so there is a high risk of serious injury. In addition, bites threaten consequences in the form of shock in the child and the threat of termination of pregnancy in the expectant mother. A bite from an elderly person can result in a heart attack, requiring immediate attention.

Symptoms: local and general reaction to the bite

In the best case, if the dog is not very large and the bite fell on a part of the body covered with thick clothing, you can only get rid of hematomas from the compression of soft tissues by the teeth without damaging the skin. Even a weak bite of a dog is quite painful; with severe injuries, the pain is very pronounced.

Puncture wound - skin punctures with minor bleeding that is easy to stop. After stopping the blood, the wound may ooze, edema (swelling) and redness occurs around the punctures, a rash in the form of small pimples, the skin may itch or, conversely, become insensitive (numbness). These signs indicate that the bite is quite deep and an inflammatory reaction is developing. A purulent process can be indicated by increased pain, swelling, discharged from a wound with a characteristic odor, and these symptoms appear a few hours after the bite. Nearby lymph nodes increase, general weakness, fever joins.

A dog can inflict puncture wounds and abrasions with teeth - such injuries, in the absence of infection, are easier to treat than lacerations.

Lacerations are accompanied by severe bleeding, pain, severe weakness and malaise, pain shock is possible. The likelihood of infection with such injuries is much higher.

Tissue damage from bites from large dogs can be severe.

If the bitten dog was sick with rabies, then the first signs of infection in humans can be detected as early as a week after the attack. The time of the initial manifestations of the disease is associated with the site of the bite, the depth and extent of the injury. The closer the damage is to the head (brain), the sooner symptoms appear.

The first period of the disease is short - only 1-2 days, it manifests itself in this way:

in the area of \u200b\u200bhealed bite, soreness occurs again;
body temperature may rise;
worried about headache and severe weakness;
the infected person becomes irritable, depressed, loses his appetite, he develops unreasonable anxiety, fear, longing, sleep is disturbed.

Further development of the disease leads to an irreversible disruption of the work of the most important centers (respiratory and vasomotor) and the patient dies.

The most terrible consequence of a dog bite is infection with a deadly disease, rabies.

The prodromal phenomena characteristic of rabies are similar to the first signs of a no less dangerous disease - tetanus. The incubation period of this severe infectious disease lasts from a week to a month. The patient develops a dull pulling pain at the site of injury, the surrounding muscles can tighten and twitch. During this period, the patient may complain of weakness, headache, sweating, loss of appetite. Then the symptoms characteristic of the disease join - tension and convulsions of the masticatory and mimic muscles (trismus and "sardonic smile"), painful difficulty in swallowing, severe tension in the muscles of the back of the head. The further development of the infection is manifested by tetanic (generalized) convulsions - the strongest involuntary contractions of the skeletal muscles, while the patient feels excruciating pain. In the worst case, tetanus can lead to muscle ruptures, spinal compression fractures, asphyxia, and cardiac arrest.

What to do in case of a bite wound

If the bite is not up to blood, and the dog simply clenched the soft tissues with its teeth, it is enough to wash off the saliva that has got on the skin with a stream of water and soap, disinfect this place with any available antiseptic (hydrogen peroxide, chlorhexidine, alcohol) and apply cold.

With any bite to the point of blood, even if the aggression was shown by a pet that received vaccinations, you must contact the nearest medical institution - emergency room, clinic, hospital. Extensive lacerations, especially in the head area, require first aid and an immediate call for an ambulance. Early treatment and prevention of rabies and tetanus can save the victim's life.

First aid

Before sending a bitten person to the hospital or the arrival of an ambulance, certain manipulations must be carried out. Action algorithm:

The wound should not be cauterized, any ointments should be applied, bandaged tightly, napkins, bandages, etc. should be placed in the cavity.

Further treatment

Upon arrival at the hospital, the patient is treated for bites:

scratches, abrasions, small puncture wounds are treated with an antiseptic and a sterile bandage is applied;
deep lacerations are subject to PST (primary surgical treatment):
- under local or general anesthesia, foreign objects, blood clots, dead tissues are removed from the wound;
- treat the cavity with antiseptic solutions.

To prevent secondary infection, sutures are not applied to bitten wounds. Large vessels are sutured in case of massive bleeding or torn tissues in case of very extensive injuries. At the same time, primary sutures are applied with a drainage-flushing system, secondary sutures are applied, or skin plastic surgery is performed. The latter is indicated to eliminate cosmetic defects - if the bites fell on the soft tissues of the face.

Bitten wounds of small size are treated with antiseptics and stitches are not applied.

According to indications, diagnostic measures can be carried out:

taking smears for bacteriological examination of the material;
blood sampling to identify infectious agents;
ultrasound or x-ray examination in case of suspected presence of a foreign body deep in the wound or injury to bones and joints.

After the measures taken, the patient may be allowed to go home or offered hospitalization. Indications for inpatient treatment are the following conditions:

extensive deep damage;
signs of wound infection (fever, swelling and redness of surrounding tissues, purulent discharge);
infection with dangerous pathogens;
patient's immunocompromised state.

Along with local treatment, the patient is given systemic therapy, which includes antibiotics - for dog bites, Amoxiclav or Augmentin, Ceftriaxone or Ciprofloxacin, Lincomycin are prescribed. Antibiotic therapy continues for 7 days.

The decision to use is decided by the doctor on an individual basis; dog bites are usually treated with penicillins or cephalosporins

If the treatment is carried out in a hospital, the victim is prescribed an intravenous drip of physiological or 5% glucose solution. With a large blood loss - blood substitutes.

At home, for the prevention of purulent inflammation, washing with a 1% solution of Dioxidine can be used, synthomycin emulsion should be applied to the wound. Change the bandage as needed.

Video - what to do if bitten by a dog

Preventive vaccination

After the attack and bites of the dog, the victim must undergo anti-rabies (against rabies) vaccination and the introduction of anti-tetanus serum. Rabies vaccination is not done if the aggressor is a domestic dog vaccinated against rabies, while the owner has documented evidence of this fact.

A patient bitten by a stray or unvaccinated domestic dog may be given rabies immunoglobulin (before the vaccine is given) if no more than 72 hours have passed since the attack. Immunoglobulin, which is ready-made antibodies that neutralize the virus, is injected around the wound and into its depth. This method is used if the damage occurred on the neck, face, head, genitals, or in case of very deep wounds, regardless of localization, and also in the case when the saliva of the attacking dog got on the mucous membranes, for example, in the eye or mouth.

The rabies vaccine (a weakened virus that stimulates the production of antibodies to the pathogen) is injected intramuscularly into the upper arm. The course is only 6 procedures according to the scheme: after the first injection, 2 days should pass, after the second - 3 days, the next vaccination is done on the 14th day after the first injection, then on the 30th and 90th day.

The course of vaccination against rabies consists of 6 injections according to a certain scheme.

The number of injections depends on the information about the bitten dog. It is recommended to monitor the animal that attacked for 10 days. If during this time the dog has not become ill with rabies, the victim receives only 3 injections of the rabies vaccine. In the event of the death of an animal or the impossibility of obtaining data about it, a full course of vaccinations is carried out. The victim should be treated regardless of the time of treatment, even if several months have passed since the incident.

There may be side reactions to the vaccine:

fever;
headache;
swelling of the cervical and axillary lymph nodes;
locally - soreness, swelling and redness at the injection site.

After the introduction of immunoglobulin, complications are possible:

development of a local allergic reaction (after 1–2 days);
anaphylactic shock;
serum sickness (one week after the injection).

Therefore, the places of vaccination and administration of immunoglobulin should be equipped with means for anti-shock measures, and the medical staff will observe the patient for 30 minutes after injections.

During the course of treatment and six months later, you should not drink alcoholic beverages, overheat and overcool, do hard physical work.

Video - how to protect yourself from rabies

Alternative methods of treating bites

Non-traditional treatment cannot replace a visit to the doctor. Folk recipes can only be used as an addition to traditional methods of treating dog bites.

Traditional healers offer different options for treating bitten wounds: local compresses, taking herbal infusions and decoctions inside. In any case, the wound must first be thoroughly washed with soap. Then you can make lotions or compresses, for which they use:

saline solution (1 large spoon per liter of boiled water);
diluted 1:1 alcohol tincture of propolis;
fresh aloe juice;
a mixture of garlic, onion and salt (1 tablespoon of grated onion and garlic with the addition of a teaspoon of salt);
onion gruel with honey (1 chopped onion mixed with a tablespoon of honey);
fresh nettle, crushed to a homogeneous gruel with the addition of salt;
crushed leaves of the meadowsweet (shelomaynik) or plantain;
dry herb powder;
herbal infusion:
- 1 st. St. John's wort mixed with 2 tbsp. spoons of yarrow, pour boiling water (300 ml), let it brew for 2-3 hours; strain and apply gauze pads soaked in the product to the wound;
infusion of eucalyptus or calendula flowers (20 g of dry raw materials per 300 ml of boiling water).

These remedies can only be used for minor puncture injuries. With lacerations, you must definitely go to the hospital.

Inside, you can take decoctions and infusions of herbs with wound healing and bactericidal action.

Infusion of cloves:

Dry cloves (10-15 pieces) are steamed in a glass of boiling water.
Insist 1.5-2 hours, strain.
Take 1 large spoon three times a day before meals.

Sweet clover herb infusion:

In a glass of boiling water, you need to take 1 teaspoon of the plant, insist for 6 hours.
Drink the medicine in a tablespoon 3 times a day before meals.

Immortelle tincture:

Pour 10 g of dry raw materials with boiling water (250 ml), insist for an hour.
Take 1 large spoon three times a day half an hour before meals.

Photo gallery - non-traditional treatment of dog bite wounds

Immortelle is used to treat dog bites both externally and internally. Cloves have disinfectant and wound-healing properties, so its infusion is used to treat dog bites. Sweet clover is used as a wound healing agent Grinded nettle leaves are applied to the site of bites.
Onion-honey mixture is used to treat bites as an anti-inflammatory agent. Fresh plantain leaves or their juice is applied to bitten wounds for healing. Aloe juice has powerful anti-inflammatory and regenerating properties. Calendula is famous for its anti-inflammatory properties, so it is used to treat wounds, including bites.

Nutrition of the victim

There is no need to follow a special diet after a dog bite. Nutrition should be complete, rich in vitamins and minerals in order to accelerate the regeneration of damaged tissues. You need to eat foods high in vitamins B, C, A, E, K and D.

In the first days after severe bites, given the possibility of developing an inflammatory reaction, acidosis and edema in the area of injury, it is advisable to eat alkalizing foods (vegetables and fruits) and somewhat limit salt in the diet.

protein sources:
- veal, turkey, chicken, dairy and sour-milk products;
correct carbs:
- fresh fruits, vegetables (including legumes and leafy vegetables), berries, whole grain breads, cereals;
healthy fats:
- vegetable oils, nuts, fatty sea fish and seafood.

The diet of a dog affected by teeth should be dominated by vegetables, lean meat, fruits, sea fish

To improve metabolic processes and speedy healing, you need to drink enough liquid - at least 2 liters per day, including natural juices, rosehip broth, dried fruit infusion. Alcohol should be excluded from the diet, the consumption of animal fats, smoked meats, fast food, confectionery, products with food additives, dyes and that can cause an allergic reaction should be minimized. A healthy, balanced diet will help damaged tissues recover faster.

How to avoid

Not only a stray dog can attack a person. And a pet, if provoked, can cause serious harm. In order not to be bitten by a domestic dog, you must:

respect her personal space: the place where she sleeps and eats, folds her toys - it is very important to teach this to the youngest members of the family;
do not tease or annoy the dog when he eats;
do not allow children to play too actively with the pet, especially alone - the dog may bite by accident, carried away by the game;
do not try to take away puppies from a lactating bitch;
do not separate the dogs if another animal attacked the pet during the walk;
limit the contact of strangers with your dog - protecting the owners and the territory, even the most peaceful dog can behave inappropriately.

In addition, the pet must be vaccinated, trained and educated in a timely manner. Wanting to grow a reliable guard out of a dog, some owners encourage her tendency to aggression. If there are no special skills in training service dogs, sooner or later you can pay with your own health for such an unreasonable upbringing. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for dogs to severely bite their owners or small children living in the family.

By encouraging the aggressive behavior of his pet, the owner runs the risk of being bitten himself.

To avoid being attacked by a yard dog:

you need to bypass dog packs or lonely aggressive dogs, by all means try to avoid contact with such animals;
if you couldn’t get away from the dog, you can’t run away, look the animal in the eyes, show fear;
you should not attack first, you need to try to slowly leave the territory that the dog most likely considers his own and guards;
if the animal is preparing for an attack, you can try to stop it with a loud cry, a handful of sand or earth thrown into your eyes, or improvised means (bag, umbrella, stick, stone) - the dog should see something in the hands of a person;
for lovers of cycling or jogging, it is advisable to get a stun gun or an ultrasonic animal repeller.

Video - Dr. Komarovsky in detail about dog bites

Dogs are our four-legged friends. Loving animals is great. However, do not forget that even a domestic dog is a beast, and its behavior is sometimes unpredictable. By following the rules of behavior with pets and street mongrels, you can avoid bites and their consequences in the form of serious infectious diseases.

There are probably stray dogs in every city in our country. It is worth recognizing that most often they do not attack a person, but there are always exceptions. It must be remembered that any dog can bite, equally, both domestic and wild - homeless. And if this trouble happened to you or someone close to you, do not panic. The main thing is to know how to properly respond to such an accident. So, let's talk about how dangerous a dog bite is to a person, consider what to do with such a nuisance and discuss after a dog bite.

As practice shows, in more than fifteen percent of cases, a dog bite is complicated by the addition of an infectious lesion and even the development of an inflammatory process.

There was a dog bite - what to do after that?

If you have been bitten by a dog, be sure to see a doctor. With such a trouble, you can go (drop in) directly to the emergency room - there you can be helped around the clock. First aid to the victim can be provided at home.

First, wash the wound under running water using ordinary soap or any other cleanser. Perform this manipulation for at least five minutes.

Various antiseptics can be used to treat the wound and its edges, for example, seventy percent alcohol, a five percent iodine solution, betadine, chlorhexedine and miramistin. Hydrogen peroxide can be poured directly into the wound cavity.

If the bite caused severe bleeding, you need to stop it. When giving first aid, be guided by the type of bleeding. To stop it, a tourniquet can be applied, you can also press the vessel with your finger. Sometimes you can cope with the problem with the help of maximum flexion of the limb, its elevated position and by applying a pressure bandage. If the bleeding is not severe, you do not need to stop it immediately - it will wash the animal's saliva and microbes out of the wound.

A sterile bandage (not tight) should be applied to the bitten area. After the victim must be taken to the nearest emergency room.

If you were bitten by your own dog during the game, and the wound is puncture uncomplicated, you can simply wash it with an antiseptic and bandage it with sterile gauze using any antibacterial ointment. This recommendation is relevant only if the dog received all the necessary vaccinations. But consulting with a doctor will still not be superfluous.

In traumatology, a victim of a bite from an unknown dog is injected with anti-rabies drugs. In some cases, immunoglobulin is used - it is injected around the wound and directly into its depth. The KOKAV rabies vaccine may also be used. It is administered no more than six times at a certain interval - on the day of the bite, after three days, seven days, fourteen days, thirty days and ninety days.

A tetanus vaccination is also commonly given.

Stitches on bites are most often not applied to avoid infection of the wound. But in some cases, suturing is still carried out - with the location of bites on the face, with extensive wounds, and also to stop bleeding.

When an infection is attached or for its prevention, the doctor may prescribe antibiotics to the victim. Such funds are usually used without fail if the wound is deep and stab. Also, the doctor may prescribe prophylactic antibiotics if the victim has many shallow wounds focused on the limbs. Antibacterial drugs are mandatory if the patient has AIDS, diabetes mellitus, or if he has recently undergone chemotherapy or has undergone removal of the spleen. The drugs of choice for dog bites are broad-spectrum antibiotics - Amoxicillin or Clavulanate. And if you are allergic to penicillins, Metronidazole is used in combination with Doxycycline.

Many patients who have been bitten by dogs also require psychological help. Sometimes they are prescribed sedatives or tranquilizers.

What threatens a dog bite, what are its consequences?

The dog is a pretty strong animal. Its muscles create tremendous pressure, which, when bitten, leads to the appearance of stab and lacerations. The victim may be damaged muscles, blood vessels, and tendons.

The situation is aggravated by aggressive microorganisms that live in the mouth of every dog. The sharp teeth of the animal lead to the fact that microbes penetrate deep into the wound, and then into the blood. This is fraught with the addition of infectious complications. With their development, the skin of the victim becomes inflamed and a whitish liquid separates. Infection also often makes itself felt with a reddish rash near the bitten area.

Possible dangerous consequences of a bite include rabies. The very first symptom of such a disease is hallucinations, which are accompanied by headaches, excessive sweating and fever. Even the victim may experience an aversion to water and muscle spasm. Rabies has no cure and is fatal. To prevent rabies after a dog bite, you should immediately seek medical help after washing the wound yourself.

Sometimes dog bites lead to the development of tetanus, in which the patient has a fever and muscle spasms. Another such injury can be complicated by sepsis - blood poisoning.

If you have been bitten by a dog, be sure to go to the emergency room. He works nights, weekends and holidays.

Folk after a dog bite

Traditional medicine will not help to provide first aid to a patient with a bite. But they are able to accelerate the healing process of the wound surface already treated by the doctor.

So, for the treatment of long-term non-healing wounds, traditional medicine experts advise preparing an ointment from twenty grams of celandine root and thirty grams of burdock root. Grind such components and fill them with one hundred milliliters of sunflower oil. Boil such a remedy over a fire of minimum power for a quarter of an hour, then strain, cool and apply to lubricate the affected areas several times a day.

Propolis is also characterized by excellent healing and bactericidal qualities. To prepare a medicine from such a bee product, prepare a fatty base, for example, vegetable oil, fish or pork fat. You will need five parts of the fat base and one part of finely chopped propolis.

Bring the fat base to a boil, then pour the prepared propolis into it. Boil for an hour without letting the medicine boil. Strain the finished product through cheesecloth and use to lubricate wounds. It is best to store this ointment in the refrigerator.

Some healers also advise preparing a medicine based on nettle leaves. To do this, put them in a half-liter jar almost to the top and fill it with seventy percent alcohol. Send such a remedy to the sun for a week, then strain and use to wash wounds. Perform this procedure immediately before applying the bandage.

You can also use fresh nettle juice - soak the dressings with it. Yarrow juice is also distinguished by remarkable bactericidal, antiseptic and healing qualities.

If you have been bitten by a dog, see a doctor as soon as possible and do not self-medicate, because it can cause serious consequences.

In any city there are homeless or lost animals, and not all owners lead their pets on a leash. In addition, it is not always possible to predict the aggressive mood of the dog in advance and successfully avoid meeting him. If a person has been bitten by a dog, it is important to have information on what to do and not waste time. The consequences of such a bite are likely to be quite harmless, but there are complications, up to death.

The following symptoms are considered characteristic signs in a person after a dog bite:

Redness, swelling at the site of the bite from the first to the third day.
Heat.
Discharge of pus.
Aches in muscles and bones.
Itching and irritation after a dog bite.
Nausea.
Emotional stress.
Enlarged lymph nodes.
If the lesion is large, bleeding is profuse.
Difficulty moving an injured arm or leg.
A person cannot swallow saliva, a spasm appears.
Insomnia.
Loss of appetite.
The rabies virus in humans damages the muscles, kidneys, intestines, lungs, and salivary glands.
Fear of water, sound or light.
The worst symptoms after being bitten by a rabid dog are paralysis that causes death.

But remember that a dog bite is dangerous. The disease occurs gradually, signs of the disease may appear even after a year. Do not delay treatment. When dog bites are not accompanied by any of the above symptoms, go to the doctor anyway.

First aid for a dog bite

What is first aid for a person who has been bitten by a dog?

If severe bleeding occurs, immediate treatment of the wound after a dog bite is not needed. Blood will wash away the saliva of sick animals if it gets on the wound. Let your body clear out the infection on its own.
First you need to wash the damaged area with water and laundry soap, which can kill viruses and bacteria, due to the alkali content.
Then the wound of the bitten person is treated. How to treat a dog bite at home? This may be a solution of potassium permanganate or hydrogen peroxide, if there is no iodine and brilliant green.
On the skin around the wound, we apply synthomycin or another ointment containing an antibiotic.
Wrap the damaged area with a gauze bandage, but do not bandage it heavily - harmful bacteria will leave with the ichor.
When dog bites are not accompanied by heavy bleeding, first aid is to slightly cut the wound and bleed to avoid infection.
Keep track of what complications the injured person will experience during the bite.
If you think that the bone is damaged, you need to fix it and go to the emergency room.

Basic help for a dog bite is provided. Now you need to take care of the emotional health of the bitten person. Give him a sedative if needed.

Do not make the victim feel severe pain, offer pain medication.

The above measures are needed immediately after a dog bite, then go to the doctor. He will tell you what to do next and recommend effective means. If the victim was bitten by a dog with a history known to him, it will be necessary to tell the specialist about the vaccinations made, the period during which they are still valid. This will help to get rid of additional unpleasant procedures.

If your friend has been bitten by a dog and there is an opportunity to observe her behavior from a safe place, you can roughly determine whether she has rabies or not. A sick animal will behave too aggressively or, conversely, very calmly. It will not be able to drink - spasms in the throat will interfere with it. But she will want to gnaw on the ground or other inedible objects. Strong salivation, squinting eyes, body spasms are a sure sign of rabies. The pet may whine or howl, but cannot bark. In this case, no one is trying to cure the animal anymore: how to treat a dog bite at home, the owner also does not need to know. Seek qualified help immediately.

First aid for an injured child from a dog bite

Adults often wonder why a previously calm dog bit a child. Children treat the animal like a toy. They can pull their pet by the tail or accidentally hit, he remembers such features of children well. It is difficult for a child to understand that this is bad, so do not be surprised if a calm and kind dog bit the child.

This is a very devoted animal, but sometimes her love is too much. The pet may be jealous. Nothing can be done here: the dog has bitten the child, because he irritates her, takes away the love of the owners. Animals bite children in the face, neck or forearm. Do not ask what to do, it is necessary to make a decision in favor of the child. To avoid such conflicts, such an animal will have to be given to someone. The question “how to treat a child’s wound after a dog bite” becomes relevant when the pet considers himself the head of the pack. This is a pack animal, and in each pack there is a certain gradation, so it demonstrates its superiority.

First aid for a dog bite at home is usually required by parents. They start to panic and act incorrectly. If you feel panicky, take a sedative and calmly decide what to do with the child after a dog bite.

First aid for a bite by an unknown dog is similar to the case with an adult. The wound is carefully treated with soap and water, make a tight bandage if the bleeding is heavy. For dog bites, first aid is to treat with an antiseptic (Levomikol or boric ointment). Parents calm the child and go to a specialist.

Bitten by a domestic dog

The object of attack is not always a stranger. It also happens that the dog bit the owner. No owner is immune from this. A pet, when playing, may not calculate its strength. The reason for the aggressive behavior of the animal can be pain, hunger, the negative attitude of the breeder. There are owners who complain that the dog bit the hand, and do not understand: they are the reason for this behavior.

Pets are usually vaccinated in a timely manner. Therefore, if you decide not to visit a medical facility where medical care is provided, first aid for a dog bite should be carried out at home. First you need to isolate yourself from the bitten pet, so if the dog has bitten, try to close it in the room.

Prepare a healing cream. To do this, chop 3 walnuts, grind the onion to a pulp and take a little salt. Mix everything. Apply ointment and lightly bandage. This mixture acts as an antidote for dog bites. There are other means than you can treat the wound.
Drink vitamin C daily, eat more foods that contain it. Reception can be stopped when the skin tightens.
Chopped garlic and a spoonful of honey is the best anti-inflammatory remedy that you can do with a dog bite - either homemade or yard.
A good help will be turmeric powder with honey. Honey has a calming effect, turmeric is an excellent antiseptic.
Cook 50 grams of eucalyptus leaf in a small amount of water, after boiling it will be enough for 4 minutes. Then strain the broth, wait until it cools down, put 2 tablespoons of honey.
Grind the onion, add a little honey, you get a healing ointment.
Make healing oil. To do this, pour 75 g of burdock root with 1 glass of oil. Leave the mixture for a day. Then the composition must be boiled, strained, drained into another bowl. Damaged areas are lubricated 2 times a day.
These remedies can be used at home, but what if you get bitten on the street by a domestic dog? It is enough to pick a sheet of celandine, put it on the site of damage.

Another treatment is needed for a bite from a domestic dog, when the wound turned out to be very deep: all that needs to be done in this case is to call an ambulance.

Treatment

The doctor knows that a treated wound reduces the risk of serious consequences, how dangerous a dog bite is, and how to treat a human wound. This is usually an antiseptic or alkaline solution. Your doctor will stitch you when:

Affected and bleeding vessels;
The wounds are on the face
The lacerations are deep.

It is possible to completely eliminate the likelihood of infection with bites only when the owner provides documents on the latest vaccinations at the veterinary clinic. If there are no such documents, there is a high probability of getting sick with rabies. In the emergency room, you will be vaccinated against rabies. Everyone has probably heard about rabies injections - 40 injections, one daily. Do not worry, now this is already a relic of the past, medicine is gradually developing. Now only six injections are enough - on the third day, 7 days after the bite, after 2 weeks, after a month and after 3 months. Such a rabies vaccine has no contraindications, it can be administered to absolutely everyone, even pregnant women, but there is one limitation: at this time and six months later, you can not drink alcohol. When the victims are treated in a timely manner, and they know how to treat a dog bite, all measures taken are effective. After the introduction of the vaccine, it is necessary to stay in a medical facility for some more time so that there is no poisoning. Drug poisoning (or allergies) appear within the first 30 minutes.

The vaccination is done immediately in the wounded place, and then in the shoulder. If you decide not to install it, fill out a written refusal. During the examination, the doctor himself will decide how to treat the dog bite. When the wound has not been washed well from dirt, an injection against tetanus is needed. A course of antibiotics is often prescribed. If a bone fracture occurs or teeth remain in the body, an x-ray is taken.

It is good when there is an opportunity to follow the behavior of the pet for a long time. If the animal is calm for about two weeks, you should again consult a doctor. He may stop further treatment. Be careful: if a dog bite heals slowly (there are a lot of wounds that do not heal longer than the due date), it is better not to take risks and consult a doctor. Do not wait for a self-healed wound - if the treatment does not give results for a long time, but it only gets worse - this is also the first sign of a dangerous disease. Remember that if you do not come to a specialist within the first three days, the vaccine may not help, and the person is doomed. It is better to start treating the wound left by a dog bite no later than 8 hours than to regret the lost time later.

Prevention

There are categories of people who definitely need preventive vaccinations. These are foresters, slaughterhouse workers, hunters, veterinarians, dog catchers. In this case, do not wait for what will happen after a dog bite, it is better to immediately prevent bad consequences. First, they give an injection on the first day, after a week, a month, a year. Then only one vaccine is administered every three years. But there are also contraindications:

Allergy (to an antibiotic or to a previous injection).
Acute chronic diseases. It is necessary that the exacerbation ends, and the person fully recovers.
Pregnancy.

It is best to avoid contact with unknown or known aggressive animals whenever possible, especially if they are not muzzled. Not worth:

Teasing a dog, even a chain dog. He experiences strong aggression, the dog at this moment becomes stronger and can break the chain.

Approach the pet when he is eating or guarding the puppies.
Wave your arms, run, shout loudly, show your fear or smile.
Sharply wake up a sleeping animal - she may be frightened.
Approach him while intoxicated.
Separate fighting animals.
Approach a pack of stray dogs. They can attack without any reason, aiming at the hips, ankles or arms of a person.
Allow children to stroke mutts or leave them alone with them.

Respect the territory that the animal considers its own.

What can scare off an aggressive dog:

Reciprocal anger towards her.
A call for help, but only in a low voice, not a loud squeal.
Confident team: "No!"
A little earth or sand thrown into the eyes.

How dangerous is a dog bite?

Damage after a collision with an animal can be different.

Superficial abrasions heal the fastest. The animal damages only the skin, so the wound is shallow.

How dangerous is a ragged dog bite for a person? Severe bleeding begins, if it is not stopped, a person may die.

The location of the injury plays an important role. A person may not always become infected, it depends on the degree of infection and other factors. The head and neck are the most traumatic, the virus enters the brain faster. Rabies affects 90% of cases and 10 days are enough for the development of the disease. After a dog bite in the leg, the risk of infection is 25%, the signs of the disease appear much later - after a few months. The disease is not transmitted from person to person, it can only be contracted from an animal.

Consequences of a dog bite

The consequences of a bite are the most unpleasant:

Painful sensations and the need to treat the injury site,
If there is an infection in the wound, then there is a risk of sepsis.
Rabies disease.
Bleeding.
Negative psychological state of a sick person.
Rupture of large vessels.
Bone fractures.
Death.

Males most often suffer from aggressive behavior of animals, and injuries also occur in children. An increase in the number of victims is observed from June to September. In any case, the most dangerous are fighting breeds (Rottweilers, Pit Bull Terriers, Dobermans). It is worth being careful and taking all the necessary precautions.

More than 150,000 people in Russia suffer from dog bites every year, and dozens of deaths from rabies are recorded.
An increase in cases of dog bites is recorded in the period June-September.

There are ten times fewer victims of bites from stray dogs than those who have been bitten by dogs with owners.
Fighting breed dogs (pit bulls, rottweilers, German shepherd mestizos, German shepherds, Dobermans, etc.)

Dog bites are more common in men, children aged 1-4 years and children 10-13 years old.
Bites predominate in the legs (in adults), in children in the head, face, neck.

More than 15% of all dog bites are complicated by the addition of an infection and the development of an inflammatory process.
For humans, sick dogs are the most common source of a fatal disease like rabies.

What are the consequences of a dog bite for a person?

First of all, this is infection of the wound and the development of a local purulent-inflammatory process, which occurs in 15-20% of all bites. In addition, systemic infection and the development of sepsis (rarely) are possible if the microorganism enters the human bloodstream.

Most often, the following microorganisms cause wound infection: Pasteurella (40-50%), Streptococcus (35-45%), Staphylococcus (30-40%), and microbes that multiply in an oxygen-free environment Fusobacterium, Bacteriodes, etc. (20-30% ). In most cases, the microbial flora in an infected wound is mixed. All of these microorganisms are found in the oral cavity of the dog and, when bitten, enter the wound area.
The development of a wound infection usually occurs 8-24 hours after the bite.

Symptoms of an infection in a wound:
Local:

Signs of inflammation - redness, swelling, pain
Purulent discharge, sometimes with an unpleasant odor
Enlargement of adjacent lymph nodes

General symptoms:

Increase in body temperature
Possible headache
Slight malaise, weakness

Possibility of contracting diseases such as tetanus and rabies.

What is rabies?

Rabies- a severe infectious disease caused by a virus. It is transmitted through the bites and saliva of sick animals. The disease is accompanied by damage to the neurons of the spinal cord and brain. In the absence of timely treatment leads to death in 100% of cases.

Who can infect with rabies?

1. The main sources of the rabies virus are wild animals:

In Russia, 90% is a fox
raccoon dog
Korsak
Arctic fox (in the tundra zone)
In recent years, rabies has been recorded in beavers, ferrets, badgers, gray rats, martens, wild cats, elks, house mice, and gray rats.
Spreaders of the disease can be: squirrels, muskrats, nutria, hamsters, bears, bats.

2. Pets, such as dogs, cats, small and large cattle, etc., which are usually infected with rabies from wild animals.

The disease is not transmitted from person to person!

How does infection occur?

When bitten by sick animals
When the saliva of a sick animal gets on the mucous membranes or on damaged skin

The saliva of a sick animal becomes contagious already 8-10 days before the onset of the disease!

Symptoms of rabies in a dog

Appearance:

Profuse salivation and vomiting
Strabismus
Dropping of the lower jaw
Hoarse and muffled barking
I have occasional seizures

Behavior:

The animal is aggressive, excited
Unexpectedly can pounce on a person
Gnawing on the ground, various objects

The mechanism of the development of the disease

Through damaged areas of the skin or through the mucous membranes, the virus enters the nerve endings. On which, at a speed of approximately 3 mm per hour, it moves to the spinal cord and brain. Having reached the structures of the brain, the virus penetrates the neurons, where it begins to multiply. After that, the virus moves in the opposite direction from the center to the periphery. The virus spreads throughout the body (salivary, lacrimal glands, kidneys, lungs, intestines, skeletal muscles, etc.). The appearance of salivation, increased sweating, convulsive contractions of the respiratory and swallowing muscles is associated with damage to the structures of the central nervous system. Death occurs from damage to vital centers (vasomotor and respiratory).

In all cases, does a person develop rabies from the bite of a sick animal?

The likelihood of developing the disease depends on the site of the bite. So, with a bite in the neck or face, the disease occurs in 90% of cases, with bites in the arms (hands) - 60%, with bites in the shoulder or thigh in 23% of cases.

Symptoms of rabies in humans

On average, the disease develops 1-2 months after the bite, but the onset of the disease is possible both 7 days and a year after the bite. The rate at which symptoms appear depends on the depth, extent of the bite, and most importantly, its location. The closer the bite is to the brain, the faster the disease develops. The symptoms of the disease develop most quickly after a bite to the head, face, neck, and much later after bites to the lower extremities.
The disease is characterized by 3 main periods, which are characterized by certain symptoms.

The initial period or the period of precursors of the disease(duration 1-3 days)

Symptoms:

Pain and discomfort in the area of the bite (which occurs long after the bite on a healed wound)
Possible rise in temperature
Violation of the mental state (depression, irritability, isolation, refusal to eat, sleep disturbance, feeling of fear, longing, fear of death, anxiety).
General malaise, headache

The period of the height of the disease or the period of excitation(duration 2-3 days)

Symptoms:

During this period, there are attacks of excitement, which are accompanied by both mental and physical excitement. At the time of an attack, a person has muscle cramps, pharynx, larynx, diaphragm, facial muscles, pupils dilate, there is a characteristic expression of horror on the face. During an attack, consciousness changes, hallucinations, delusions occur. The patient's breathing quickens, becomes uneven with deep noisy whistles, it is possible to stop breathing at the height of the attack. Attacks last from a few seconds to minutes, with time their frequency increases.
An attack can provoke an attempt to drink water (fear of water - hydrophobia), or a breath of air (aerophobia), a loud sound (acousticophobia), bright light (photophobia).
The patient has a strong salivation, constantly spitting saliva, foam appears from the mouth. The occurrence of foam from the mouth is associated with a violation of the act of swallowing in combination with excessive salivation.
The patient is very agitated, screaming, rushing about, aggressive, can attack with fists, bite. Excessive emotional activity can last from 2-3 hours to 2-3 days.

Period of calm or imaginary improvement (duration 1-3 days)
- Cessation of convulsions and excitement
- Conscience clears up
- Death occurs from a block of the respiratory or vasomotor center.

Rabies diagnosis

The diagnosis of rabies is mainly based on the symptoms of the disease and the history of its occurrence. However, it is possible to isolate the virus from saliva or cerebrospinal fluid. In addition, there is an analysis from the imprint of the cornea or a piece of skin on the back of the head that allows you to identify the causative agent of the disease. The most accurate diagnosis is established posthumously, when specific inclusions in neurons (Babes-Negri bodies) are determined during the analysis of the patient's brain.

Consequences of rabies

4 days after the onset of the first symptoms of the disease, 50% of patients die, after 20 days 100% of the diseased.

Rabies Prevention

Usually, prophylaxis is carried out for persons who have a high risk of contracting rabies (dog hunters, hunters, veterinarians, foresters, slaughterhouse workers). At the first stage of vaccination, 3 injections of 1 ml of vaccine are made (on the first day, on the 7th and on the 30th). The next vaccination in a year (1 injection). Then every 3 years, 1 injection.

Contraindications for prophylactic vaccination

Pregnancy
Allergic reactions to the previous administration of this drug (rash, Quincke's edema, etc.)
Allergy to antibiotics
Acute diseases (infectious and non-infectious nature), chronic diseases in exacerbation, vaccination should be carried out one month after recovery.

First aid for a dog bite

How to give first aid to a bitten, a guide


What to do?	How?	For what?
1. Wash the wound	Wash the wound under running water with soap for at least 5 minutes (you can use another cleanser that dissolves fats)	The rabies virus dies in an alkaline environment, under the action of disinfectants and fat solvents.
2. Treat the wound and its edges	It is necessary to use one of the antiseptics, agents that kill microbes and prevent their reproduction: Alcohol 70% 5% iodine solution Hydrogen peroxide Betadine Chlorhexidine Miramistin	Disinfection, prevention of infection and wound suppuration. Hydrogen peroxide can be poured into the wound cavity, which will have three positive effects at once: it will mechanically remove various contaminants that have entered the wound, stop bleeding and disinfect the wound.
The edges of the wound are not excised or sutured for the first three days after the bite. Prevention of secondary infection. Stitches are applied only for extensive wounds, to stop bleeding on the vessels, and for cosmetic reasons (bites in the face).
4. Stop bleeding (if any)	Ways to temporarily stop bleeding: Tourniquet application Finger pressing of the vessel Maximum limb flexion Elevated position of the limb pressure bandage See article - First aid for bleeding	Stop blood loss Buy time to be able to provide specialized medical care save a life
5. Apply a sterile dressing	If possible, use sterile material (bandages, napkins, gauze bandages, etc.).	Prevents further contamination of the wound and the ingress of various microorganisms into it.
6. Administer the rabies vaccine (the procedure is painless, free of charge)	Immunoglobulin against rabies(introduced around the wound and into the depth of the wound). Dose 40 IU/kg and 20 IU/kg. Always administered prior to the administration of the vaccine. For special indications. Rabies vaccine (KOKAV) Enter intramuscularly in the shoulder(deltoid muscle), for children under 5 years old - in the thigh (upper part of the anterior - lateral surface). Do not inject into the gluteal region. There are 2 main schemes for administering the vaccine, which depend on the severity of the bite. The number of injections is not more than 6! Scheme: Day 0 - 1st injection (1ml) 3rd day (1ml) 7th day (1ml) 14th day (1ml) 30th day (1ml) 90th day (1ml) Scheme: On the first day of treatment, immunoglobulin is administered before the introduction of the vaccine. And then 6 injections according to the above scheme. After the introduction of the vaccine, the patient must be observed for at least 30 minutes. Places of vaccination should have all the necessary conditions for the provision of anti-shock treatment. After the course of treatment, a certificate is issued indicating the type and series of vaccines administered and mentioning post-vaccination reactions. It is forbidden: during the course of vaccinations and 6 months after drinking alcohol overwork supercool overheat	Vaccine (KOKAV) is a neutralized virus that contributes to the development of immunity to the rabies virus. Possible adverse reactions (rare): redness, itching, swelling at the injection site, swollen lymph nodes (axillary, cervical), malaise, weakness, fever, headache. Immunoglobulin- is a protein that neutralizes the rabies virus. Possible side effects of immunoglobulin: anaphylactic shock, local allergic reaction (1-2 days after injection); serum sickness (usually 6-8 days after administration).
Some features of therapeutic vaccination: The number of injections depends on the information about the bitten animal. Animals attacking a person should be caught if possible. The following categories of animals are subject to slaughter: wild, stray, unvaccinated animals that have committed an unprovoked attack on humans, sick animals with symptoms of rabies. The brain of a slaughtered animal is used to diagnose rabies. In areas where rabies is not common among pets, apparently healthy dogs and cats are isolated and observed for 10 days. If after the expiration of the period the animal does not get sick, then in this case the bitten person receives only the first 3 "rabies shots". Vaccination is not carried out if the bitten animal was vaccinated, while the owner of the dog has all the necessary documents confirming the vaccination of the animal. 2. In what cases is treatment with immunoglobulin performed? Scheme 1 (without immunoglobulin): when sick animals salivate intact skin, with abrasions, if there are single scratches or bites on the upper, lower extremities and torso (except for the genitals, face, head, fingers and toes). Scheme 2 (with immunoglobulin): when saliva gets on the mucous membranes, bites in the face, head, neck, genitals, fingers and toes, with deep bites regardless of the bite site, with bites of any nature inflicted by wild animals, rodents, bats mice. 3. If a person who received a full course of vaccines after a dog bite was attacked again, but 1 year has not passed since the last injection. Then such a person will receive only 3 injections with the vaccine (on the 0th, 3rd and 7th day). 4. Breast age of a child or pregnancy is not a reason for refusing medical vaccinations. 5. Treatment is carried out regardless of the time the victim applied for help (possibly a few months after the bite). 6. Vaccinations after a dog bite to children Doses and schedules for administering vaccines are the same for children and adults For children under 5 years of age, the vaccine is injected into the thigh (upper part of the anterior - lateral surface)