If you or someone you love has been the victim of a dog bite or animal attack, medical care should be your immediately property. For more severe injuries, call 911 immediately and follow the dispatcher’s instructions until paramedics arrive.
Even if an ambulance is not required, seek an evaluation at an emergency room, urgent care clinic or your physician's office. Although rabies is more commonly associated with wild animal attacks, it can be transmitted from a dog bite. If you do not know whether the dog that bit you was immunized, treat any dog bite as having the potential to cause rabies infection. Your doctor may give you antibiotics and suggest a rabies vaccine series.
If a facial injury is involved, the decisions you make immediately after the animal attack can make a huge difference on potential scarring. If you require stitching at the hospital, you should request that a plastic surgeon perform that work so as to minimize scarring. |
