Dog Bite
A dog bite not only is painful physically but also emotionally. I've known people to develop life-long dog phobias because of a dog bite. Some dog species are known for their tendency to bite and are sometimes outlawed in different communities and subdivisions. Know what to do if you are bitten by a dog.
A dog bite to any part of the body is quite scary and painful, but when it is on the face, it adds additional worry and concern. Dogs are notoriously unpredictable. They can go from happy to dangerous quickly. It's important you know what to do if a dog bites you or a member of your family.
If, despite your best efforts of being careful around dogs, you are bitten by a dog, you need to get proper medical care. This is true for any dog bite, but most especially for a facial one, because the face is one area of the body that you don't want scars to mar your natural beauty. It is more susceptible to infection as well, so you want to be sure that the bite is carefully cleaned and you are given the proper antibiotics to help prevent infection from the bog bite. Your physician will determine if you need stitches or other treatment to help prevent the formation of scar tissue and future problems as well. On the face, scars are a major concern, so be sure that you follow any direction that your doctor gives you.
If the dog was a stray or you can't find the owner, you want to contact animal control to have the dog tested for rabies. Rabies isn't very common in dogs anymore, but it can occur, especially in dogs that tend to roam or encounter other dogs that roam. If you can't find the dog that inflicted the bite, it's important go through the rabies shot series to make sure you don't get sick.
Any dog that bites you, whether your own, a friend or neighbor's, or a stray, it should be quarantined for ten days to be sure that it exhibits no signs of rabies. If rabies is found, then you will have to undergo the series of shots to help prevent you from getting rabies.
Dogs can bite from fear or from playfulness, which is why it is hard to completely protect yourself from their bite. By working to prevent a dog bite and knowing what to do if you are bitten, you can help keep yourself and your family safer and healthy.
