What Are the Potential Complications of Dog Bites?

Even the friendliest dogs can lash out of they feel intimidated, scared, or angry. There’s always a risk of q dog biting you when you try to pet it, especially if it’s a random dog in the park or on the street that you’ve never seen before.

Dogs can often feel wary when new people approach them. Some dogs will turn their fear into aggression and try to bite you as soon as you reach your hand down to stroke them, leaving a nasty wound.

Regardless of whether a dog bite is small or large, it can lead to serious complications. Millions of people sustain dog bites every year, and sadly, some result in fatalities.

This article will cover the important steps that you should take if you get bitten by a dog and the potential complications of dog bites.

What to Do if You Get Bitten by a Dog

If you have sustained a dog bite and you feel that the owner’s negligence caused it, contact a dog bite lawyer at Lamber Goodnow, Tucson. They will help you file a claim against the dog owner for compensation for your injuries and psychological trauma.

While contacting a lawyer is essential after a nasty dog bite, it’s not the first step you should take. Immediately after you get bitten, you must first gather the details of the dog owner, and you’ll need these if and when you make a claim.

Once you’ve gathered their details, you should go to the nearest hospital for treatment. There is a risk of infection and sepsis after a dog bite, and a doctor will need to assess your wound and dress it appropriately. A dermatologist might also look at your wound to determine whether plastic surgery is necessary to improve its appearance.

The Complications of Dog Bites

Even the smallest dog bites that only seem minor can result in serious complications, which is why getting medical treatment as soon as possible after a dog bites you is important.

Let’s look at some of the most common complications of dog bites.

Painful, bleeding wounds

Dog’s teeth are sharp, and it only takes a couple of seconds for them to leave a nasty wound. If your dog bite wound is left untreated, it may continue to bleed and become more painful, especially if it’s a deep wound.

Bacterial and viral infections

Dogs can carry diseases that are transmissible to humans, including Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, and Rabies. If an infected dog bites your skin, bacterial and viral particles can transfer from their saliva into your bloodstream.

It’s important to be aware of the signs of infection. However, if your skin doesn’t appear to be damaged and you aren’t experiencing any major symptoms, you should still get medical help as soon as possible.

The main symptoms of infection include swelling, redness, pain, pus, and heat around the wound. You might also start to feel dizzy or begin sweating excessively after a while if you have a bacterial or viral infection.

Damage to muscles, tendons, blood vessels, and nerves

If a dog bites deep enough to pierce through every layer of the skin, it can reach the underlying structures. Your muscles, tendons, blood vessels, and nerves are all relatively close to the skin’s surface, making them vulnerable in the event of a dig bite.

Damage to any of these structures can cause major and permanent complications. Burst blood vessels could disrupt blood flow to certain areas of your body and increase your risk of serious infections. Nerve damage could lead to paralysis of nearby muscles.

Again, this is why it’s so important to get medical help as soon as possible after a dog bite. The extent of the damage may not be obvious at first, so you will need a full medical investigation to receive the best forms of treatment.

Permanent scars

When the skin is pierced by the rough edges of a dog’s teeth, it might never return to its original state. You might be left with permanent damage and a noticeable scar.

Thankfully, there are lots of great scar creams that you can apply to the scar to reduce its appearance. Some of the best scar creams include Mederma Advanced Scar Gel, SkinCeuticals Phyto +, and Honeydew Blemish Cream.