Dogs are known to be man’s best friend, but occasionally, this is not the case. Some dogs have not been raised to be gentle creatures. Some have been mistreated by their owners. And sometimes, a dog is simply sick or senses danger, and its reaction is to bite.
Regardless of the reason for the bite, if you’ve ever been bitten by a dog, you know it can be a very painful thing. And it’s certainly not something anyone wants to deal with. However, if you do find yourself with a dog bite, there are a few steps you should take.
Stop the Bleeding
First and foremost, you need to address the wound. Put pressure on it until the bleeding stops. Then, wash it with gentle soap and warm water, letting the water thoroughly soak the wound. This will help wash away much of the bacteria before it becomes problematic.
Seek Care
The amount and type of care you need depend on several things, including the severity of the bite. If it’s not a very deep bite, you might only need the wound cleaned and disinfected. However, if you were bitten somewhere near your eye or around a similar area and it’s a deep wound, you might require stitches or more.
Sometimes, dog bites can hit nerves, bones, organs, and more. And in cases like these, you can experience some severe issues now and in the future. Additionally, if the dog has not been vaccinated, you could end up with some type of disease or illness, including rabies.
It’s best to go to a hospital so that they can check your bite out thoroughly. They can do more than address the wound. They can do X-rays to determine if anything vital has been compromised. And they can run tests for potential illnesses, which will allow them to address those illnesses immediately.
Get Legal Advice
If it was not your dog that bit you, you might be able to sue the dog’s owner. This can be a tricky area, though. Many states do not charge a dog owner if it’s the first time the dog has bit anyone. If, however, it’s a habit, the owner can be charged.
You will need to make a report of the bite so that it’s on record. If you try to sue the owner without some form of documentation, you’re probably not going to get very far. It’s also a good idea to take pictures of the wound and the scene where it occurred. Don’t hang around to do this if the dog is still there, though.
As it’s such a tricky situation, you’ll need to seek the advice of a lawyer. They can listen to your story, read the reports, and help determine if you have a legitimate case. If you do, they can walk you through the process to ensure you achieve the best results.
If it was your dog that bit you, you’ll need to determine why this happened and take steps to prevent it from happening again. This might include things like dog training or seeking advice from your vet.
