Dog bite: what you need to know. Small and superficial wound

More than 150 thousand people suffer from dog bites in Russia every year, and dozens of deaths from rabies are recorded.
An increase in cases of dog bites is recorded during the period June-September.

There are tens of times fewer victims of stray dog bites than there are victims of owner dog bites.
Dogs are the most dangerous fighting breeds(pit bulls, rottweilers, German shepherd mixes, german shepherds, Dobermans, etc.)

Dog bites most often affect men, children aged 1-4 years, and children 10-13 years old.
Bites predominate in the leg area (in adults), in children in the head, face, and neck areas.

More than 15% of all dog bites are complicated by infection and development inflammatory process.
For humans, the most common source fatal disease How do sick dogs get rabies?

What are the consequences of a dog bite for a person?

First of all, this is infection of the wound and the development of a local purulent-inflammatory process, which happens in 15-20% of all bites. In addition, systemic infection and the development of sepsis (rare) are possible if the microorganism enters the bloodstream person.

Most often, wound infections are caused by the following microorganisms: pasteurella (40-50%), streptococci (35-45%), staphylococci (30-40%), and microbes that multiply in an oxygen-free environment Fusobacterium, Bacteriodes, etc. (20-30% ). In most cases, the microbial flora in infected wound mixed. All of the listed microorganisms are found in oral cavity When dogs bite, they get into the wound area.
The development of wound infection usually occurs 8-24 hours after the bite.

Symptoms of infection in the wound:
Local:

Signs of inflammation - redness, swelling, pain
Purulent discharge, sometimes with unpleasant smell
Increase in nearby lymph nodes

General symptoms:

Increased body temperature
Possible headache
Mild malaise, weakness

It is possible to become infected with such dangerous diseases as tetanus and rabies.

What is rabies?

Rabies– the hardest infection caused by a virus. Transmitted through the bites and saliva of sick animals. The disease is accompanied by damage to neurons in the spinal cord and brain. With absence timely treatment leads to death in 100% of cases.

Who can spread rabies?

1. The main sources of the rabies virus are wild animals:

In Russia, 90% are foxes
Raccoon dog
Korsak
Arctic fox (in the tundra zone)
IN last year rabies has been recorded in beavers, ferrets, badgers, gray rats, martens, wild cats, moose, house mice, gray rats.
Distributors of the disease can be: squirrels, muskrats, nutria, hamsters, bears, bats.

2. Pets, such as dogs, cats, small and large cattle and others, who usually become infected with rabies from wild animals.

The disease is not transmitted from person to person!

How does infection occur?

When bitten by a sick animal
If the saliva of a sick animal gets on mucous membranes or damaged skin

The saliva of a sick animal becomes infectious already 8-10 days before the onset of the disease!

Symptoms of rabies in a dog

Appearance:

Excessive drooling and vomiting
Strabismus
Sagging lower jaw
Hoarse and muffled barking
I arise from time to time seizures

Behavior:

The animal is aggressive, excited
Can unexpectedly attack a person
Gnaws the ground and various objects

Mechanism of disease development

The virus penetrates through damaged areas of the skin or through mucous membranes. nerve endings. Along which it moves at a speed of approximately 3 mm per hour to the spinal cord and brain. Having reached the structures of the brain, the virus penetrates neurons, where it begins to multiply. After which the virus moves in the opposite direction from the center to the periphery. The virus spreads throughout the body (salivary, lacrimal glands, kidneys, lungs, intestines, skeletal muscles and etc.). The appearance of drooling, increased sweating, convulsive contractions of the respiratory and swallowing muscles is associated with damage to the structures of the central nervous system. Death occurs from damage to vital centers (vasomotor and respiratory).

In all cases, does a person develop rabies from the bite of a sick animal?

The likelihood of developing the disease depends on the location of the bite. So, with a bite on the neck or face, the disease occurs in 90% of cases, with bites on the arms (hands) - 60%, with bites on the shoulder or thigh in 23% of cases.

Symptoms of rabies in humans

On average, the disease develops 1-2 months after the bite, but the onset of the disease is possible 7 days and a year after the bite. The speed at which symptoms appear depends on the depth, extent of the bite and, most importantly, its location. The closer the bite is to the brain, the faster the disease develops. Symptoms of the disease develop most quickly after a bite to the head, face, neck and much later after bites to the lower extremities.
The disease is characterized by 3 main periods, which are characterized by certain symptoms.

Initial period or period of disease precursors(duration 1-3 days)

Symptoms:

Pain and discomfort in the area of the bite (which arise through long time after a bite on a healed wound)
Possible increase in temperature
Violation mental state(depression, irritability, isolation, refusal to eat, sleep disturbance, feelings of fear, melancholy, fear of death, anxiety).
General malaise, headache

The period of the height of the disease or the period of excitation(duration 2-3 days)

Symptoms:

During this period, attacks of excitement occur, which are accompanied by both mental and physical arousal. At the time of the attack, a person experiences muscle spasms, pharynx, larynx, diaphragm, facial muscles, pupils dilate, and there is a characteristic expression of horror on the face. During an attack, consciousness changes, hallucinations and delusions occur. The patient's breathing quickens, becomes uneven with deep noisy whistles, and breathing may stop at the height of the attack. The attacks last from several seconds to minutes, and their frequency increases over time.
An attack can be triggered by an attempt to drink water (fear of water - hydrophobia), or a breath of air (aerophobia), loud noise(acoustic phobia), bright light (photophobia).
The patient has strong salivation, constantly spits saliva, and foam appears at the mouth. The occurrence of foam at the mouth is associated with a violation of the act of swallowing in combination with excessive salivation.
The patient is very excited, screams, rushes about, is aggressive, can attack with fists, bite. Excessive emotional activity can last from 2-3 hours to 2-3 days.

Period of calm or imaginary improvement (duration 1-3 days)
- Stopping seizures and agitation
- Consciousness clears up
- Death occurs from a block of the respiratory or vasomotor center.

Diagnosis of rabies

When making a diagnosis of rabies, one mainly relies on the symptoms of the disease and the history of its occurrence. However, it is possible to isolate the virus from saliva or cerebrospinal fluid. In addition, there is an analysis from an imprint of the cornea or a piece of skin on the back of the head, which allows us to identify the causative agent of the disease. The diagnosis is most accurately established posthumously, when specific inclusions in neurons (Babes-Negri bodies) are determined during an analysis of the patient’s brain.

Consequences of rabies

4 days after the appearance of the first symptoms of the disease, 50% of patients die, after 20 days 100% of patients die.

Prevention of rabies

Typically, prophylaxis is given to people who have high risk rabies infection (dog catchers, hunters, veterinarians, foresters, slaughterhouse workers). At the first stage of vaccination, 3 injections of 1 ml of vaccine are given (on the first day, on the 7th and on the 30th). Next vaccination in a year (1 injection). Then every 3 years, 1 injection.

Contraindications for preventive vaccination

Pregnancy
Allergic reactions to previous administration this drug(rash, angioedema, etc.)
Allergy to antibiotics
Acute diseases(infectious and non-infectious nature), chronic diseases in exacerbation, vaccination should be carried out a month after recovery.

First aid for a dog bite

How to provide first aid to someone who has been bitten, a guide


What to do?	How?	For what?
1. Wash the wound	Wash the wound under running water and soap for at least 5 minutes (you can also use another detergent that dissolves fats)	The rabies virus dies in an alkaline environment, under the influence disinfectants and fat solvents.
2. Treat the wound and its edges	It is necessary to use one of the antiseptics, agents that kill microbes and prevent their reproduction: Alcohol 70% 5% iodine solution Hydrogen peroxide Betadine Chlorhexidine Miramistin	Disinfection, prevention of infection and wound suppuration. Hydrogen peroxide can be poured into the wound cavity, which will have three effects at once positive effects: mechanically removes various contaminants that have entered the wound, stops bleeding and disinfects the wound.
The edges of the wound are not excised or sutured for the first three days after the bite. Prevention of secondary infection. Sutures are placed only when extensive wounds, to stop bleeding on blood vessels, and for cosmetic reasons (bites in the face).
4. Stop bleeding (if any)	Ways to temporarily stop bleeding: Application of a tourniquet Finger pressure vessel Maximum limb flexion Elevated limb position Pressure bandage See article - First aid for bleeding	Stop blood loss Gain time to provide specialized medical care Save a life
5. Apply sterile bandage	If possible, use sterile material (bandages, napkins, gauze dressings, etc.).	Prevents further contamination of the wound and the entry of various microorganisms into it.
6. Administer rabies vaccine (the procedure is painless and free of charge)	Rabies immunoglobulin(injected around the wound and into the depth of the wound). Dose 40 IU/kg and 20 IU/kg. Always administered before the vaccine is administered. For special indications. Rabies vaccine (COCAV) Enter intramuscularly in the shoulder(deltoid muscle), for children under 5 years old - in the thigh ( top part anterior lateral surface). Do not inject into the gluteal region. There are 2 main vaccine administration regimens, which depend on the severity of the bite. The number of injections is no more than 6! Scheme: Day 0 – 1st injection (1ml) 3rd day (1ml) 7th day (1ml) 14th day (1ml) 30th day (1ml) 90th day (1ml) Scheme: On the first day of treatment, immunoglobulin is administered before the vaccine is administered. And then 6 injections according to the above scheme. After the vaccine is administered, the patient requires observation for at least 30 minutes. Vaccination sites must have everyone the necessary conditions to provide antishock treatment. After the course of treatment, a certificate is issued indicating the type and series of vaccines administered and with a mention of post-vaccination reactions. It is forbidden: Drink alcohol during the course of vaccinations and 6 months after overwork supercool overheat	Vaccine (COCAV) is a neutralized virus that promotes the development of immunity to the rabies virus. Possible adverse reactions(rarely): redness, itching, swelling at the site of vaccine administration, enlarged lymph nodes (axillary, cervical), malaise, weakness, fever, headache. Immunoglobulin– is a protein that neutralizes the rabies virus. Possible side effects immunoglobulin: anaphylactic shock, local allergic reaction(1-2 days after administration); serum sickness(usually 6-8 days after administration).
Some features of therapeutic vaccination: The number of injections depends on the information about the biting animal. Animals that attack a person should, if possible, be caught. The following categories of animals are subject to killing: wild, stray, unvaccinated, those who committed an unprovoked attack on a person, sick animals with symptoms of rabies. The brain of a killed animal is used to diagnose rabies. In places where rabies is not common among domestic animals, healthy dogs and cats, isolate and monitor them for 10 days. If after the expiration of the period the animal does not get sick, then in this case the bitten person receives only the first 3 “rabies injections”. Vaccination is not carried out if the biting animal has been vaccinated, and the dog owner has all Required documents confirming the vaccination of the animal. 2. In what cases is treatment using immunoglobulin carried out? Scheme 1 (without immunoglobulin): when a sick animal salivates on intact skin, when there is an abrasion, if there are single scratches or bites on the upper, lower limbs and torso (except genitals, face, head, fingers and toes). Scheme 2 (with immunoglobulin): if saliva gets on the mucous membranes, bites in the area of the face, head, neck, genitals, fingers and toes, with deep bites regardless of the location of the bite, in case of bites of any nature inflicted by wild animals, rodents, bats. 3. If the person who received full course vaccines after a dog bite, was attacked again, but from the moment last injection 1 year has not passed. Then such a person will receive only 3 injections with the vaccine (on the 0th, 3rd and 7th day). 4. Infancy a child or pregnancy is not a reason to refuse therapeutic vaccination. 5. Treatment is carried out regardless of how long it takes for the victim to seek help (possibly several months after the bite). 6. Vaccinations after a dog bite for children Vaccine doses and schedules are the same for children and adults For children under 5 years of age, the vaccine is administered into the thigh (upper part of the anterior lateral surface)

Dog bite prevention

You should not approach a dog guarding its puppies.
Do not suddenly disturb the dog if it is sleeping
Don't touch your dog while he's eating.
Respect the dog's territory (its place, etc.)
Don't let your child touch unfamiliar dog
Don't leave your child alone with the dog

Usually dogs attack people during the mid-season periods, especially in spring and autumn. Everyone should know what to do if bitten by a dog.

If very big square bite, especially if there is a lot of blood flowing and it is difficult for you to move - first of all, urgently call an ambulance or ask someone to call one.

If you can get home, go to the bathroom, where you should thoroughly wash the wounds with water and (this is not a typo - with soap!). Expensive soap not advisable - household grade is better, it has more alkali.

Be patient and rub the surface of the bite for a few minutes. Try to wash away all the dog's saliva from the surface of the wound.

You can pour hydrogen peroxide on the wound and treat the skin around the wound with iodine. Stopping the bleeding is not the main task. It is better to wash the wound thoroughly, as the infection is washed away along with the blood.

Then apply a gauze or cotton swab to the wound, do not press too hard, wrap it with a bandage or plaster.

Whatever it is, you definitely need to visit a doctor! Usually this is a traumatology center at the place of residence. Naturally, you can go to any other place. Medical assistance bitten by a dog is needed to prevent rabies.

Know everything: rabies is a deadly infection!!! Not only dogs can be contagious, but also foxes, cats, wolves and, in general, any warm-blooded animal. Rabies can be treated with a vaccine, sometimes for several months.

How to avoid a dog attack in general? Why get treatment then? Well, from simple tips- don’t look her in the eye, don’t wave your arms and legs, don’t shout to the whole street, and don’t even smile (there’s no time for smiling here).

It's clear that some dogs don't care what you do and may attack you regardless.

If the danger is too close, try to somehow avoid a collision. You can use the entrance of a house, a gate, a store, a telephone booth, or some high place where an evil animal cannot reach. But just don’t run towards the obstacle, walk at a calm pace, most importantly facing the dog.

As soon as you run, the dog will immediately catch up with you. You can lean against a wall or a bus stop. Take off your outer clothing, wrap it around your hand, and pull it forward.

In some cases, you can try to seize the initiative. You can command the dog “No!”, “Ugh!”. This often helps.

Dogs are very afraid of opening an umbrella. If he is with you, use him. The sudden opening of an umbrella has a deterrent effect on any dog. Sometimes ordinary sand under your feet helps - throw it in the enemy’s face.

If you have already had problems with dogs, then you may need a psychologist. Or maybe classes in special groups with dogs. There you will learn not to be afraid of dogs at all, understand their nature, and maybe you will again love and understand these very kind and most importantly loyal animals.

What surprises await your dog on a walk? It is quite possible that an unwanted encounter with a neighbor's dog will end in a fight. A cat can be bitten by bullies in the country. The results of fights - bite wounds in a dog or cat are not as harmless as they might seem at first glance.

Bite wounds always have crushed tissues, their separation, damage to blood vessels and puncture wounds from teeth.

Small wounds - marks from fangs often go unnoticed. Or the owner does not give them of great importance. But simply treating such a wound with iodine will not help. In the oral cavity of animals there is great amount microorganisms that enter the wound and begin their pathogenic effects. Wounds are dangerous because if poorly treated, the skin defect is covered with a crust (often the crust is a mixture of sticky wool and ichor). And exudate accumulates under the skin, which after a while will become purulent. 3-5 days after the bite, the dog becomes lethargic, the temperature may rise, and the bite site is painful and hot.

Wounds with profuse bleeding in the abdominal and chest cavity require urgent appeal to the veterinarian. It happens that the damage to the skin in the chest area is minor, but under the skin, as a result of the bite, the muscles are torn and there is an entrance to pleural cavity. Such wounds are life-threatening. Help must be provided as soon as possible.

At large area damage required antishock therapy – drip administration solutions and administration of cardiac drugs.

With bite wounds on the limbs, the dog may not step on the paw, and only an x-ray will help find out why: because of pain in the wound or because of a fracture.

Cat wounds, bites and scratches, are most often localized in the head area. Scratches in the cheek area that are unnoticeable at first glance can lead to a serious complication - subcutaneous phlegmon if not treated in a timely manner. And untreated wounds in the ear area lead to otitis media, due to the fact that the discharge from the wound flows into the ear canal.

How to treat a wound on an animal?

Before visiting a doctor, you can give your pet first aid. Carefully trim the hair around the wound, wash the wound with hydrogen peroxide or chlorhexidine, place a clean cloth over the wound and bandage it. At heavy bleeding on the limbs, apply a tourniquet above the wound or simply press the wound firmly through a napkin (or a clean handkerchief) with your fingers.

Different wounds - different approach

Before deciding how best to treat the wound, the doctor shaves the hair around it, thoroughly rinses the wound and subcutaneous pockets antiseptic solutions. Fresh wounds (up to 8 hours) can be sutured (provided there are no large subcutaneous pockets). In case of correct and good processing and provided good care, fresh wounds heal in 7-10 days. If you came a day or later after the bite, then after standard treatment you may need to remove dead tissue and install drains (gauze or tubular). You can change and wash drains yourself at home. A course of antibiotics must be prescribed and, if required, general state dogs and vitamins. Wounds with complications that are not treated on time take longer to heal; the healing process can take 2-4 weeks.

Caring for a bitten dog

The doctor treated the wound, now the most important thing is up to you - proper care pledge quick recovery and healing. The first thing your pet will try to do at home is to rip off the bandage and lick the wound. It is important to prevent this from happening, especially if the wound has stitches. There will be no stitches the second time; the wound will take a long time to heal. Buy a protective collar and watch your pet so that he doesn’t get to the sore spot. The first treatment of the wound can be done at the veterinary clinic, or it can be done by you. At the first appointment, ask the doctor in detail how to treat the wound, write everything down (or the doctor will write everything down for you in detail). At home, two people need to treat the wound. The assistant will fix the animal, and you will process it. There is no need to be nervous, you will succeed. Try to act quickly, accurately and accurately. Prepare everything in advance so as not to be distracted during processing. Place open bottles with solutions away from the animal. If the dog or cat jerks suddenly, the bottles may fall and break.

Dog bites are quite common. Despite the fact that a person has long tamed an animal and a dog is deservedly considered a friend of a person, the likelihood of being bitten always remains. Due to certain circumstances, even a domestic dog can attack, and even more so a stray dog. Therefore, every person should know what to do in such cases and what assistance to provide to the victim, since quite often bites can have serious consequences.

How dangerous is a dog bite?

In addition to being traumatic, a dog bite is also dangerous because it can lead to a disease such as rabies. It is dangerous because there is a huge risk fatal outcome. The rabies virus is transmitted from a dog to a person through saliva that gets into an open wound. Therefore, it is important to take appropriate measures in a timely manner to avoid severe consequences and reduce the likelihood of infection to a minimum.

In addition, it is necessary to distinguish between the severity of bites. They are:

punctured, characterized by damage to the skin, while soft fabrics remain intact;
torn, in which the epidermis is damaged, as well as muscle and connective tissues. Such wounds require immediate medical attention, such as stitches.

But no matter what kind of wound is formed after a dog bite, you need to consult a doctor.

And so, rabies is a disease, the virus of which, entering the human body, quickly penetrates into nerve cells, and after and up to the brain. Then the following appear, indicating the development of pathology:

convulsions;
hallucinations;
increased salivation;
fear of water and photophobia.

In the absence of proper medical care, respiratory paralysis develops. It should also be noted that once the disease is discovered, it is almost impossible to save the person; treatment in this case only alleviates the condition and does not save life.

In addition, from a dog bite you can become infected with sepsis, tetanus and a number of other infectious diseases.

After receiving deep lacerations, there is also a risk large blood loss, receiving psychological trauma, state of shock.

First aid

When providing assistance to a victim of a dog bite, first of all you need to understand what kind of animal committed the attack: domestic or stray, and it would also be good to observe it in the next few days. Now as for the victim himself. When open wound and bleeding from it, it is necessary to give time for the animal’s saliva to come out along with the blood, since it may contain pathogenic microorganisms And infectious bacteria. Then you need to wash the wound with warm soapy water (you should use laundry soap or hydrogen peroxide), and then treat with an antiseptic. Skin around the bite, you should treat it with hydrogen peroxide or brilliant green; if you don’t have anything on hand, then alcohol will do. After this, apply to the wound gauze bandage. To relieve pain and prevent shock, you can take analgesics and sedatives. If the wounds are serious enough that there is a possibility of bone damage, then the injured area must be immobilized and immobilized.

After providing first aid, the victim must be taken to the hospital, and if the wounds are numerous and quite serious, then ambulance call immediately.

In the hospital, the wound is treated and, if necessary, stitches are applied.

After a dog bite, the victim is prescribed special rabies injections, which are given on certain days and their number is six injections, which are absolutely safe and have no contraindications.

If a dog bites a child

Children are more likely than adults to be attacked by dogs. There are many reasons for this, but the most important thing, after the fact, is timely and the right help. Lack of panic (which is very difficult to expect from adults whose children have been injured) helps to avoid serious complications, and in some cases even save the child’s life. Therefore, it is very important to remain calm and the right actions perform a first aid.

First of all, the wound is examined and its severity is determined, especially dangerous lacerations in the head and neck area, where there is a real risk of bleeding and closed fractures. Therefore, the child should be helped and taken to the clinic.

First aid includes:

washing the wound aqueous solution from laundry soap;
treating the injury site with an antiseptic;
treating the surrounding skin with iodine;
applying a sterile dressing.

If the wound is not too serious, then after examination by a doctor and stitches (if necessary), it is recommended to apply antiseptic ointments to its surface. You can use Levomekol or Betadine.

If necessary, if there is a risk of infection in the child’s body, he is also prescribed a special vaccine. In this case, you shouldn’t be scared; it’s easier to get several injections of serum than to deal with serious illnesses, which in most cases medicine is not able to cope with, especially since modern science I took a good step forward and now instead of forty injections, six are quite enough.

In addition to administering the vaccine, a course of antibiotics may also be prescribed; this is necessary if there is a real threat of infection.

Children who have been bitten by a dog may develop psychological problems, such as panic fear of animals, stuttering, sleep disorder and other symptoms. In this case, a big role is given to the parents, who must restore emotional balance to the child, and if they cannot cope on their own, it is necessary to contact a specialist.

First aid for a dog bite should not only stop the bleeding, but also prevent infection by bacteria contained in the saliva. A common dog bite can lead to an abscess, osteomyelitis, septic arthritis and meningitis. The most dangerous infections are tetanus and rabies. The consequences can be dire, including death.

A dog that has bitten should be tried not to be left out of sight, since the state veterinary service is obliged to establish surveillance of the animal and find out how dangerous the dog is to others. If the dog is not a stray, you need to find out from its owner whether the animal has been vaccinated against rabies within the last 2 years. This information is extremely important.

The situation is more complicated if she was bitten homeless dog. It is not always possible to independently determine whether an animal has rabies. External symptoms- aggressiveness, gait disturbance, increased salivation, drooping tail, hoarse and shrill barking - appear only a few days after infection. Therefore, in the event of a dog bite, you need to consult a doctor as quickly as possible, but first, provide first aid to the victim.

Local wound treatment

If the tissue damage is deep and extensive, first of all, you need to stop the bleeding, but not immediately: the dog’s saliva comes out of the wound along with the blood. You must also be prepared for the fact that if the veins and arteries are damaged, a person may experience painful shock.

First aid for a dog bite is to thoroughly wash the wound with soapy water

First, the wound, as well as all places where the animal’s saliva has come into contact, are washed generously with soapy water ( perfect option– laundry soap), then the wound is treated with hydrogen peroxide. This measure will prevent rabies infection by 90%. The edges of the wound (namely the edges, but not the wound itself!) should be treated with 5% tincture of iodine or brilliant green.

After disinfection, a cotton or gauze swab, lightly securing it with a plaster or bandage so that the bandage is not airtight. If the bleeding is profuse, a pressure bandage is needed.

Medical assistance is necessary!

Then you should urgently contact medical care. Doctors must give rabies injections: 6 injections in the shoulder over 3 months, prescribe necessary antibiotics, and also find out when you received a tetanus shot. Conduct surgical intervention They should not be put into the wound during the first 3 days.

As you can see, providing first aid for a dog bite is extremely important, therefore, in the event of an animal attack, you should not neglect these measures and risk human life.

And one more important point. In no case should the owner of the dog get away with everything that happened, who is obliged to compensate for the damage caused. If he is in no hurry to do this on his own, seek help from a lawyer. To do this, you need to submit an appropriate medical certificate, file a written claim addressed to the dog owner, draw up statement of claim to court and, of course, provide testimony.

Sincerely,