Dog Bite

**Bloo** · 10-19-2008, 10:23 PM

My poor old dog bit me just underneath my wrist on friday-she has a nasty ear infection and forgetting that I tapped her on the head and for the first time in her 16 years she lept up and bit me-one tooth went in pretty bad...

it hurt and swelled up-we had a vet appt in the morn on saturday an dhub took her i thought i would be ok but when they came back i was in alot of pain and it was swelling

anyway we went to a walkin and i was put on antibiotics and toldto watch for lines going up my arm i dont see anything but it is almost day2 and i am still swollen and in pain

I want to give the antibiotic another day but guess we will go to emergency in the AM better safe than sorry (i so dont want to go-who does?)

anyone have advice who has been through a dog bite?

ps people close to me want us to put her down, no way she was sick and she is on a bunch of meds after the vet visit-it wasnt her fault

**khjmom** · 10-19-2008, 11:15 PM

I had a friend who was bit by her dog who was in pain due to hip and back problems. (he had never done it before) She did have to go to her doctor, who in turn had to report the dog bite. She had to show proof that her dog was up to date on all shots. thankfully he was, so her dog didn't have to be quarantined for I think 10 days. She said it was the law that doctors had to report such things. Thankfully, her vet was also very helpful....and was able to back her up that the dog was experiencing pain..showed the shot record...etc. I would think that if your bite is still very painful, that you need to get it checked out, but be prepared that your doctor could very well have to report the bite. Hopefully not, but I would want you to be prepared just in case. Good luck and keep us updated on how you feel.
(and how your dog is feeling)

**Bloo** · 10-19-2008, 11:55 PM

thanks for the reply

my dog is feeling better slowly and the doctor at the walk in center wasnt concerned about any legal issues - maybe because she was our dog and current on her shots

i dread this getting worse tho they say these infections spread fast but i feel fine except for the pain and swelling LOL

how did things turn out for your friend with her bite?

thanks again-

bloo

**madhen** · 10-20-2008, 10:59 AM

I've been bitten twice in my life. The second bite was my fault, and it was right in the hand. Dog bites are a very traumatic injury, and it WILL swell a lot and hurt for quite some time. My bite was on both sides of my hand (back and palm) from a cocker spaniel. It was probably three weeks before I could make a fist again, and a couple of months before I regained full strength in that hand.

I didn't go to a doctor, because I'm one of those kinds who goes only when I think I'll probably die otherwise, but I don't think a doctor can do much, except prescribe antibiotics.

The bite typically doesn't look like much from the surface, but if you think about it, it is a very deep puncture, and typically because your instinct is to pull away, it is also not just straight up and down. There can be a lot of muscle and tissue injury under that little hole!

Good luck with the healing. I'd ice it a couple of times a day and take ibuprofen for the pain/inflammation.

**Persimmon Lace** · 10-20-2008, 11:21 AM

I would ice it, use ibuprofen and the neosporin with the pain killer. My cat bit me the other day and that's what I did for mine. I was lucky to be on an antibiotic anyway so it calmed down in about 72 hours but it hurt like heck! (((((hugs))))) I've been bitten before by a dog and when it's your's it seems like one of the family members has bitten you!

**Ceashels** · 10-20-2008, 03:17 PM

The mouth of dogs is like a coctail of bacteria. Keep a very close eye on it and if it doesn't improve have it looked at immediately.

I was bit by my friends dog and though the puncture was not that deep I had an infection by the next morning... This was after washing it and adding antibiotics. I was put on levequin (very potent antibiotic) and was told that if it did not improve in one day I would be visiting the hospital for some IV antibiotics and possible surgical debridement to open and clean out the infected area.

Do not take this lightly, it will not "heal on its own." What you can not see under the surface of the skin.... can kill you. There were no questions or legalities to deal with since the dog was up to date in my situation.

Please error on the side of caution.

**Greebo** · 10-20-2008, 03:23 PM

What Ceashels said. Go to the ER. NOW.

**madhen** · 10-20-2008, 07:25 PM

I believe the OP *did* go to a clinic after the bite and was given an antibiotic. The concern was about the swelling and pain. No antibiotic is going to do much about that.

**Goodwin17** · 10-21-2008, 12:17 AM

I've seen quiet a few dog bites when I was still practicing as a nurse practitioner. The best thing you can do for it is take your antibiotics. Ice and elevate the arm as much as possible. If the pain/swelling increases, you get a fever over 101F, or if you notice bright red streaks running up your arm from the site of the bite, you should have it checked back out. Thankfully dog bites are not as bad as cat bites. Cats for some reason have a whole lot more bacteria in their mouths. Take care, and I hope you heal very soon!!!

I was bit by my pet rabbit once. I've been bit by lots of dogs, but never enough to break the skin. I'm thankful for that.

**Bloo** · 10-21-2008, 04:45 PM

Thanks all!!!!!!!!

I am doing much better today (and yesterday) i can even type with my hand now and move my fingers and the swelling is going down.

You are all right about the pain wow! Very painful. I was warned about the red lines too...now if my mother would stop calling me and telling me to go to the ER (sheesh already! i am 44!) i would be ALOT better

**madhen** · 10-21-2008, 10:30 PM

Glad to hear it. Long after the pain is gone, you may still have a lot of stiffness and some loss of range of motion. Try to (very gently) stretch the muscles as they heal, to keep their flexibility. You WILL eventually be 100% again, but it takes a long time. I couldn't pick things up with my left hand for months, but it works just as well as the other one now!

My bite may have been more severe - it was two punctures, one on each side, almost like driving a nail all the way through your palm and out the other side - so you may heal up much faster.

**Bloo** · 10-23-2008, 12:48 AM

Originally Posted by madhen

Glad to hear it. Long after the pain is gone, you may still have a lot of stiffness and some loss of range of motion. Try to (very gently) stretch the muscles as they heal, to keep their flexibility. You WILL eventually be 100% again, but it takes a long time. I couldn't pick things up with my left hand for months, but it works just as well as the other one now!

My bite may have been more severe - it was two punctures, one on each side, almost like driving a nail all the way through your palm and out the other side - so you may heal up much faster.

It sounds like your bite was more severe-ouch!

I had one puncture wound on the top of my arm under my wrist and 3 others that didnt break skin but caused bruises

My hand is still feeling stiff i can move it tho (and type lol) but I know it may never be the same i hope so tho
thanks again!

**IntlMom** · 10-23-2008, 12:57 AM

Bloo, I've been following this thread - I'm glad to hear that you are on your way to being on the mend!!
Glad it wasn't more serious too!!

**Bloo** · 10-23-2008, 10:11 AM

Thanks so much Traci!

**Bloo** · 11-02-2008, 01:52 AM

Hi

my bite is scabbing over finally and I hope the swelling around it will go down as it heals

the edges are itchy!

thanks to e1 who wrote this forum is special