You can't believe it happened but your dog has just been bitten by another dog. Stay calm and try following the advice below from our Winston-Salem vets.
Take Steps to Avoid Trouble in The First Place
At Carolina Veterinary Specialists our team understands that at dog biting your dog can feel like it came out of the blue, but in most cases, dogs will give a warning sign before biting, even if it's a subtle warning. By learning to watch for and understand signs that another dog is frightened or anxious you may be able to prevent your pup from being bitten.
The truth is that dogs don't go out looking for trouble. In fact, dogs will go out of their way to avoid dangerous or aggressive situations. Which is why dogs typically give a number of warning signals before biting.
The first important thing to note is that fear or anxiety in dogs can stem from a current situation, or could be related to past experiences. While you may not believe that there is anything happening that could cause another dog to become fearful, a dog could be feeling extremely anxious.
Recognize The Signs of a Fearful or Anxious Dog that May Bite
Whether you are out with your dog for a walk or at the off-leash park keep an eye out for signs of anxiety or fear in other dogs. Some obvious and well known signals to watch for are: growling, snapping, lunging, snarling or baring teeth.
That said, a fearful or anxious dog will likely send out more subtle signals first such as licking lips, turning face away, trying to move away, ears flattened and back, yawning or crouching.
If there is a dog close-by showing any of these signs, take your pet and move away calmly but quickly. It can be helpful to put a physical barrier between your dog and the threatening dog such as a fence or a parked car.
Steps to Take if Your Dog is Bitten by Another Dog
Even if you know and watch for the early warning signs, unexpected dog bites can happen. If your pet receives a dog bite or gets into a fight with another dog, here are some guidelines for what you should do:
- Stay calm, try not to panic since this will only make your dog more afraid.
- Do not step between the dogs to break up a fight. This could lead to getting bitten yourself.
- Focus on your dog and getting your pup away from the other dog. (The other owner should be doing the same). A loud clap to distract the dogs may help, then call your dog.
- Do not shout at the other dog or make eye contact since this could make the dog feel more threatened.
- Ask the other dog owner for details such as contact information and whether their dog is up to date on their vaccines. If the other pet owner is absent or uncooperative take pictures if can.
- Once you and your pup are safely away from the other dog, contact your vet immediately for advice and to let know you are on your way, or head to your nearest emergency animal hospital.
Assessing Your Dog's Injury
A number of factors influence the severity of a dog bite, and while it may seem obvious that a large bite that is bleeding profusely requires immediate veterinary care, you may not realize that a small dog bite can also pose a serious health risk.
It is a good idea to have all bite wounds, whether big or small, examined by a veterinarian as quickly as possible. (This is equally true if a cat bites your dog.)
Why It's Essential to Take Your Dog to The Vet After a Bite
Even the smallest puncture wound can be a major cause for concern due to the high risk of infection.
When your dog is bitten, the tooth not only creates a small puncture in the skin, it also creates a pocket below the skin which forms an ideal environment for bacteria (from the aggressor's mouth) to multiply and lead to an infection.
Because the hole in the skin is relatively small, the skin tends to heal itself very quickly but in doing so, traps the bacteria within the pocket where it can quickly multiply and turn into an abscess.
While infection tends to be the primary concern for any dog bite, other serious health issues can develop depending on the location and severity of the bite. Other serious health risks associated with dog bites include:
- Infection of the bone
- Infection of the joint
- Cellulitis (tissue infection)
- Accumulation of pus in the chest cavity or abdominal cavity
What to Expect When You Visit the Vet
When the vet examines your pup's bite wound they will consider the depth of the wound as well as the amount of 'dead space' caused by the bite. Dead space is the pocket that is created when skin is pulled away from the subcutaneous tissue. Typically, the larger the dead space, the higher the risk of infection. Your vet will also look for signs of other physical injures such as nerve damage, broken bones or bleeding under the skin.
Dog Bite Treatment for Dogs
Once your veterinarian has done a full examination, and thoroughly cleaned the wound, they will likely prescribe a broad spectrum antibiotic such as amoxicillin-clavulanate, or enrofloxacin to help fight infection and try to prevent an abscess from developing.
In the case of deeper, more serious bite wounds your vet may recommend surgically removing the damaged tissue and placing a drain in order to help the body rid itself of any pooling infection.
If your vet is concerned that there may be more potentially serious injuries that they are unable to spot with the naked eye, they may also recommend diagnostic testing such as x-rays or ultrasound scans.
Depending on the nature of the wound, you vet may also prescribe painkillers to help make your dog more comfortable throughout the healing process.
Cleaning the Bite Wound
If you are unable to get to the vet right away it is extremely important to clean the wound thoroughly as soon as possible, and keep it clean.
- Very gently wash the bite wound with soap and water and pat dry.
- Use hydrogen peroxide, chlorhexidine or betadine to dab the wound in order to help kill germs. (Note that the continued use of hydrogen peroxide on the wound is not recommended as it can interfere with the healing process).
- Use a clean dry gauze pad to dry the wound then apply an antibiotic ointment such as Neosporin.
It is important to keep the wound clean and prevent your pup from licking the area. Clean the wound 3 - 4 times daily and reapply antibiotic ointment to help prevent infection.
Tips on How to Help Your Dog Heal After a Dog Bite
Preventing your dog's bite wound from becoming infected will be your number one priority. This means that you will need to prevent your pup from licking at the wound. While many pet parents feel bad about making their pup wear an e-collar (Elizabethan collar or 'cone of shame'), these collars are very effective.
If your dog is particularly uncomfortable wearing a cone, softer and less intrusive options such as the Kong Cloud Collar are available online and work well.
Be sure to administer medications as instructed! It is important to administer antibiotics as directed and for the full amount of time. Don't be tempted to stop giving your dog antibiotics because the wound looks like it has healed. Stopping antibiotic treatment early can cause the infection to come back with a vengeance, and be harder to fight.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.