by  MendocinoAnimalCare 

Dog Bites: Appropriate Dog Bite Treatment and Prevention

The dark side of owning a dog is facing a dog bite. No one wants to think their adorable dog will bite someone but it happens. As an owner, you need to know how to prevent dog bites and how to treat dog bites when they do happen.

Dog Bite Statistics

• The CDC estimates 4.5 million dog bites each year in the U.S.
• 880,000 dog bite victims seek emergency attention each year
• Men are more likely to be bit by dogs than women (women suffer from cat bites)
• Children between the ages 5 – 9 suffer the most dog bites than any other age group

How to Treat a Dog Bite

If you are bitten by a dog or if your dog bites someone, then you will need get the appropriate treatment immediately. Dog bites damage the skin and cause significant injury which is not readily apparent.

Treatment for Dog Bites:

• Separate the person from the dog to stop further attacks
• Seek the owner of the dog for appropriate rabies vaccination records
• Elevate the bite wound, if possible
• Rinse the bite wound with tap water

 When to See a Doctor for a Dog Bite

Seeking medical treatment for all dog bites is not necessary. For example, puppies often nip and bite during play. This may be painful and should be corrected but rarely does it require emergency medical attention.

Signs you Need to Seek Emergency Medical Attention

• The dog bite punctures the skin (draws blood)
• The dog bite causes a laceration (tear in the skin)
• The wound appears to be infected (red, swollen, painful, hot to the touch)
• Dog bit victim has not had a tetanus shot
• Dog’s owner cannot be found or rabies vaccination cannot be verified

How to Prevent a Dog Bite

The best advice is to learn dog bite prevention. It is rare a dog bites anyone unprovoked. Unprovoked dog bites are rare with most dogs biting their owners during some kind of miscommunication.

• Researching a dog breed before adopting a dog
• Selecting a dog breed suitable for your home
• Do not approach a stray dog
• Approach dogs slowly
• Use extreme caution when approaching an injured dog
• Do not approach a dog while it is eating, sleeping or caring for its puppies

Which Dog Breeds are Most Likely to Bite

While many people fear the pit bull (as well they should), they are not the most likely to bite. In a three study, by Applied Animal Behaviour Science, found that pit bulls and Rottweilers were not the most likely to bite. The results may surprise you.

Dog Bite Statistics: Which Dog Breeds Bite the Most

• Dachshunds (1 in 12 dogs snapped at owners and 1 in 5 snapped at strangers)
• Chihuahuas
• Jack Russell Terrier

The study also believes there may be a bit of a bias. Small dogs are not always discouraged when biting like big dogs. Therefore, small dogs may be more likely to bite because they do not know it is an inappropriate behavior.

Dog Bite Statistics: Which Dog Breeds Bite the Least

• Basset Hounds
• Golden Retrievers
• Labradors
• Siberian Huskies
• Greyhounds

Dog Bite Statistics: Danger Dog Bites

A massive study was done on dog bite injuries and deaths from 1985 to 2010. In this study, they found Pit Bulls caused 59% of all fatal attacks. When this was combined with Rottweilers, the two dog breeds accounted for 73% of all deaths.

The combination of pit bulls, rottweilers, presa canarios, and their mixes:

• 80% of attacks that induce bodily harm
• 70% of attacks to children
• 83% of attack to adults
• 69% of attacks that result in fatalities
• 75% that result in maiming