Signs of Dog bite

Description

Dog bites can become infected if not treated appropriately but are less likely to become infected than cat bites. If the dog was large the bite can cause significant injuries to nerves, blood vessels, tendons and even break bones. Dog bites of the neck can potentially be life threatening.

Symptoms

Pain, swelling, bleeding, redness, red streaks up the arm or leg, bleeding, loss of function, fever.

Tests

A history and physical will be done. The bite will be explored and the nerves and tendon function will be tested. At times an xray will done to rule out a fracture.

Standard Workup

wound culture
X-Ray

Treatment

All dog bites should be cleaned and irrigated. Any associated injuries to nerves, blood vessels, tendons or bones should be repaired. Antibiotics are generally given to prevent an infection. With an infection antibiotics will either be given by mouth or intravenously (IV) depending on the extent of the infection. The most common antibiotics used are cephelexin/Keflex, clindamycin/cleocin and levofloxacin/Levaquin. Dog bites of the face are usually repaired with sutures immediately, all other dog bites may be left open to heal without sutures.