Infections you Can Face After a Dog Bite

Dog bites can be scary. On top of the trauma of suffering an attack from a dog, which could be a small nip or a full-on assault, you could find yourself facing a serious injury that requires extensive medical care. Tissue damage, nerve damage, deep tooth punctures, and the prospect of permanent scarring where the dog bit you can be overwhelming to think about after the bite.

But these are not the only complications you can face. If you do not have your wound treated in a timely manner, it can potentially get infected, subjecting you to even more health complications. This is why you should address the bite with a first aid kit right away after a bite and then seek professional care from a doctor as soon as you can.

Educate yourself and your children about what can happen to a wound following a dog bite. If you do suffer from an infection or other serious complications from a bite, consider seeking compensation for your damages through a personal injury claim.

Types of Infection from a Dog Bite

Infections from dog bites come from bacteria transferred via the bite from the dog to the victim. Examples of the types of bacteria that can be present in a dog’s mouth and thus transferred to a human victim include:

• Staphylococcus. This type of bacteria causes a staph infection, which can cause blisters, boils, inflammation, or redness;
• Capnocytophaga. This type of bacteria can cause infections that can cause flu-like symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, confusion, and myalgia; and
• Pasteurella canis. This type of bacteria can lead to soft tissue and wound infections like conjunctivitis, peritonitis, and arthritis.
  

Although a human can suffer these infections from a dog bite, dogs and other animals can suffer them as well. If your pet is bitten by a dog, take it to a veterinarian to have the wound assessed as soon as you can.

What to Do to Prevent Infection After a Bite

If a dog’s bite breaks the skin, clean the wound immediately with soap and water and apply a clean bandage. Keep the wound elevated. If you cannot get to the doctor the same day, apply an antibiotic ointment to the wound each day until you can.

Be on the lookout for the following:

• Pus oozing from the wound;
• Enlarged lymph nodes;
• Tenderness around the bite;
• Red streaking around the bite; and
• A loss of sensation in the area of the bite.
  

Each of the above symptoms, as well as traditional flu-like symptoms like fever, nausea, and chills, can indicate an infection.

Work with a Chicago Dog Bite Attorney

If a dog bites you, you can suffer significant physical and economic damages. Examples of the physical complications you can face include nerve damage and permanent scarring and as a result of these, you can also suffer economic damages like high medical bills and lost wages as you spend time recovering. Consider seeking compensation for these damages by working with experienced dog bite attorney Thomas A. Morrissey of The Law Offices of Thomas A. Morrissey to file a personal injury claim. Contact our firm today to schedule your initial consultation with Mr. Morrissey.