Photo gallery - non-traditional treatment of wounds from dog bites. Deep and extensive laceration, but uncontaminated
One of common causes contacting the emergency room is a bite from a domestic or stray dog. Unfortunately, in our country there are no clear mechanisms for controlling stray animals, which is why a walk past a landfill or a deserted alley can end up meeting, well, if with one, a stray dog.
In a situation where a dog has bitten, whether domestic or homeless, you can’t hesitate. It is necessary to provide first aid as soon as possible and consult a doctor.
Dog bite - what to do
If bitten by a dog on the street, it is most likely homeless (unless its owner is nearby), and in this case, there is a possibility that it is infected with the rabies virus.
In this regard, such a bite requires a mandatory visit to the emergency room, as well as to the veterinary service, because if the dog is not caught, it may bite someone else. That is why, no matter how strange it may sound, it is necessary to remember the signs of the dog that bit you.
If bitten by a domestic dog - what to do
If the dog that bit you is a pet, contact its owner or ask him right on the spot whether the dog was vaccinated against, what vaccine and for how long ( different vaccines operate at different times).
Remember that if someone's dog bit you, you have full right demand compensation from the owner for the damage caused to you. In this case, you need to seek legal assistance to file a lawsuit.
First aid for a dog bite
Many do not know how to treat a dog bite, which is why they often do it wrong. The first rule is that before treating the wound with an antiseptic, it must be thoroughly washed using water and soap for this, and it is better if the soap is household.
This is because it contains many times more alkali, which prevents bacteria from entering the wound. This should be done in any case, even if the dog did not bite to the point of blood, because they may remain on the skin invisible to the eye scratches, which are also "gates" for infection.
You should not use alcohol, vodka, brilliant green, etc. to treat the wound. You can resort to such antiseptics only if hydrogen peroxide is not at hand. It is with its help that it is better to handle the bite. And the antiseptics listed above can slow down wound healing due to tissue burns.
After that, it is advisable to apply a tight gauze bandage to the bite site and consult a doctor. Well, if there is heavy bleeding at the site of the wound, do not waste time and call an ambulance.
Dog bite - treatment
At home, animal bites should not be treated! Firstly, bite wounds can often be lacerated and accompanied by severe blood loss, and secondly, with the saliva of the animal, a mass of pathogenic microorganisms, capable of causing suppuration and infection, thirdly, the bite of a stray dog in most cases requires, which is carried out only by a doctor.
And don't be afraid. Rabies vaccination today is not 40 injections in the stomach, but only 6 over 3 months (1, 3, 7, 14, 30 and 90 days after the bite), and even then in the shoulder, which is transferred to times easier.
When deciding how to treat a dog bite, doctors evaluate the severity of the bite, its location, the presence of dead skin around, signs of inflammation and suppuration, etc. The surgeon may even remove some of the skin around the injury beforehand to avoid infection.
After that, the wound is washed and thoroughly cleaned, the patient is prescribed a course of antibiotics, the purpose of which is also to prevent suppuration. With all this, the wound during this time may not be sewn up in order to prevent infection and other complications. Instead, they impose sterile dressing, and only after a few days, sew up.
Also, the doctor can refer you to if you have not been vaccinated, because in addition to rabies, the saliva of the animal also threatens this dangerous infection. Fortunately, vaccination against is just one shot, not 6.
The child was bitten by a dog - what to do
If a child has been bitten by a dog, you should not even think about how to treat a dog bite at home! The child's body is even more susceptible to infection, and if the wound is lacerated, it requires a neat suture that will not leave scars.
The first thing to do if a child is bitten by a dog is to calm him down. IN affectionate form calm the children's crying, explain that everything will heal, that the doctor will treat the wound and there will be no trace of it.
If bitten domestic dog, the child may need it, since there is a high probability of fear of dogs and other pets, fear of betrayal, etc.
More than 150,000 people in Russia suffer from dog bites every year, and dozens of deaths from rabies are recorded.
An increase in cases of dog bites is recorded in the period June-September.
There are ten times fewer victims of bites from stray dogs than those who have been bitten by dogs with owners.
Dogs are the most dangerous fighting breeds(pit bulls, rottweilers, german shepherd mixes, german shepherds, dobermans, etc.)
Dog bites are more common in men, children aged 1-4 years and children 10-13 years old.
Bites predominate in the legs (in adults), in children in the head, face, neck.
More than 15% of all dog bites are complicated by infection and development inflammatory process.
For humans, sick dogs are the most common source of a fatal disease like 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 occurs in 15-20% of all bites. In addition, systemic infection and the development of sepsis (rarely) are possible if a microorganism enters bloodstream person.The following microorganisms most often cause wound infection: Pasteurella (40-50%), Streptococcus (35-45%), Staphylococcus (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 these microorganisms are found in oral cavity dogs and bite into the area of the wound.
The development of a wound infection usually occurs 8-24 hours after the bite.
Symptoms of an infection in a wound:
Local:
- Signs of inflammation - redness, swelling, pain
- Purulent discharge, sometimes with an unpleasant odor
- Enlargement of adjacent lymph nodes
- Increase in body temperature
- Possible headache
- Slight malaise, weakness
What is rabies?
Rabies- a severe infectious disease caused by a virus. It is transmitted through the bites and saliva of sick animals. The disease is accompanied by damage to the neurons of the spinal cord and brain. With absence timely treatment leads to death in 100% of cases.
Who can infect with rabies?
1. The main sources of the rabies virus are wild animals:- In Russia, 90% is a fox
- raccoon dog
- Korsak
- Arctic fox (in the tundra zone)
- IN recent years rabies was recorded in beavers, ferrets, badgers, gray rats, martens, wild cats, elks, house mice, gray rats.
- Spreaders of the disease can be: squirrels, muskrats, nutria, hamsters, bears, bats.
The disease is not transmitted from person to person!
How does infection occur?
- When bitten by sick animals
- When the saliva of a sick animal gets on the mucous membranes or on damaged skin
Symptoms of rabies in a dog
Appearance:- Profuse salivation and vomiting
- Strabismus
- sagging mandible
- Hoarse and muffled barking
- Periodically arise seizures
- The animal is aggressive, excited
- Unexpectedly can pounce on a person
- Gnawing on the ground, various objects
The mechanism of the development of the disease
Through damaged areas of the skin or through the mucous membranes, the virus penetrates into nerve endings. On which, at a speed of approximately 3 mm per hour, it moves to the spinal cord and brain. Having reached the structures of the brain, the virus penetrates the neurons, where it begins to multiply. After that, 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, etc.). The appearance of salivation, 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 site of the bite. So, with a bite in the neck or face, the disease occurs in 90% of cases, with bites in the arms (hands) - 60%, with bites in 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 both 7 days and a year after the bite. The rate 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. The 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.
- The initial period or the period of precursors of the disease(duration 1-3 days)
- Pain and discomfort in the bite area (which occur through long time after a bite on a healed wound)
- Possible rise in temperature
- Violation mental state(depression, irritability, isolation, refusal to eat, sleep disturbance, feeling of fear, longing, fear of death, anxiety).
- General malaise, headache
- The period of the height of the disease or the period of excitation(duration 2-3 days)
- During this period, there are attacks of excitement, which are accompanied by both mental and physical excitement. At the time of an attack, a person has muscle cramps, pharynx, larynx, diaphragm, facial muscles, pupils dilate, there is a characteristic expression of horror on the face. During an attack, consciousness changes, hallucinations, delusions occur. The patient's breathing quickens, becomes uneven with deep noisy whistles, it is possible to stop breathing at the height of the attack. Attacks last from a few seconds to minutes, with time their frequency increases.
- An attack can provoke an attempt to drink water (fear of water - hydrophobia), or a breath of air (aerophobia), loud noise(acousticophobia), bright light (photophobia).
- The patient has a strong salivation, constantly spitting saliva, foam appears from the mouth. The occurrence of foam from the mouth is associated with a violation of the act of swallowing in combination with excessive salivation.
- The patient is very agitated, screaming, rushing about, 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)
- Cessation of convulsions and excitement
- Conscience clears up
- Death occurs from a block of the respiratory or vasomotor center.
Rabies diagnosis
The diagnosis of rabies is mainly based 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 the imprint of the cornea or a piece of skin on the back of the head that allows you to identify the causative agent of the disease. The most accurate diagnosis is established posthumously, when specific inclusions in neurons (Babes-Negri bodies) are determined during the analysis of the patient's brain.
Consequences of rabies
4 days after the onset of the first symptoms of the disease, 50% of patients die, after 20 days 100% of the diseased.Rabies Prevention
Usually, prophylaxis is carried out for people who have high risk rabies infection (dog hunters, hunters, veterinarians, foresters, slaughterhouse workers). At the first stage of vaccination, 3 injections of 1 ml of vaccine are made (on the first day, on the 7th and on the 30th). The next vaccination in a year (1 injection). Then every 3 years, 1 injection.
Contraindications for prophylactic vaccination
- Pregnancy
- Allergic reactions to the previous administration of this drug (rash, Quincke's edema, etc.)
- Allergy to antibiotics
- Acute diseases(infectious and non-infectious nature), chronic diseases in exacerbation, vaccination should be carried out one month after recovery.
First aid for a dog bite
How to give first aid to a bitten, a guide
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| What to do? | How? | For what? |
| 1. Wash the wound | Wash the wound under running water with soap for at least 5 minutes (you can use another cleanser that dissolves fats) | The rabies virus dies in an alkaline environment, under the action of disinfectants and fat solvents. |
| 2. Treat the wound and its edges |
| 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 remove various impurities that have fallen into the wound, stop bleeding and disinfect the wound. |
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| 4. Stop bleeding (if any) | Ways to temporarily stop bleeding:
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| 5. Apply a sterile dressing |
| Prevents further contamination of the wound and the ingress of various microorganisms into it. |
| 6. Administer the rabies vaccine (the procedure is painless, free of charge) | Immunoglobulin against rabies(introduced around the wound and into the depth of the wound). Dose 40 IU/kg and 20 IU/kg. Always administered prior to the administration of the vaccine. For special indications. Rabies vaccine (KOKAV) Enter intramuscularly in the shoulder(deltoid muscle), children under 5 years old - in the thigh ( top part anterior-lateral surface). Do not inject into the gluteal region. There are 2 main schemes for administering the vaccine, which depend on the severity of the bite. The number of injections is not more than 6!
After the introduction of the vaccine, the patient must be observed for at least 30 minutes. Vaccination sites should have all 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 mentioning post-vaccination reactions. It is forbidden:
| Vaccine (KOKAV) is a neutralized virus that contributes to the development of immunity to the rabies virus. Possible adverse reactions (rare): redness, itching, swelling at the injection site, swollen lymph nodes (axillary, cervical), malaise, weakness, fever, headache. Immunoglobulin- is a protein that neutralizes the rabies virus. Possible side effects immunoglobulin: anaphylactic shock, |
Some features of therapeutic vaccination:
Vaccination is not carried out if the bitten animal was vaccinated, while the owner of the dog has all Required documents confirming the vaccination of the animal. 2. In what cases is treatment with immunoglobulin performed?
4. Breast age child or pregnancy is not a reason to refuse medical vaccinations. 5. Treatment is carried out regardless of the time the victim applied for help (possibly a few months after the bite). 6. Vaccinations after a dog bite to children
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Prevention of dog bites
- Do not approach a dog guarding its puppies
- Do not suddenly disturb the dog if he is sleeping
- Don't touch the dog while it is eating.
- Respect the dog's territory (her place, etc.)
- Don't let your child touch unfamiliar dog
- Don't leave your child alone with the dog
First aid for a dog bite should not only stop bleeding, but also prevent infection with bacteria that are contained in saliva. A common dog bite can lead to abscess, osteomyelitis, septic arthritis and meningitis. by the most dangerous infections are tetanus and rabies. The consequences can be dire, including death.
The dog that has bitten should be tried not to be left out of sight, since the state veterinary service is obliged to monitor 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 bitten homeless dog. It is not always possible to independently determine whether an animal was sick with rabies. external symptoms- aggressiveness, gait disturbance, increased salivation, hanging tail, hoarse and shrill barking - appear only a few days after infection. Therefore, in case of a dog bite, you need to see a doctor as soon 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: along with the blood, the dog's saliva comes out of the wound. You must also be prepared for the fact that in case of damage to the veins and arteries, a person may experience pain shock.
First aid for a dog bite - wash the wound thoroughly with soapy water
First, the wound, as well as all the places where the saliva of the animal has fallen, are washed abundantly 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 a 5% tincture of iodine or brilliant green.
After disinfection, the wound must be applied with a cotton or gauze swab, lightly securing it with a plaster or bandage so that the bandage is not tight. If the bleeding is heavy, a pressure bandage is needed.
Medical help is needed!
Then you should immediately apply for medical care. Doctors should give you rabies injections: 6 injections in your upper arm over 3 months, prescribe any antibiotics you need, and find out when you were vaccinated against tetanus. Conduct the same surgical intervention in the wound they should not for 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 you get away with everything that happened to the owner of the dog, who is obliged to compensate for the damage caused by the injury. If he is in no hurry to do it on his own, seek the help of a lawyer. To do this, you need to submit an appropriate medical certificate, issue a written claim to the owner of the dog, draw up statement of claim to the court and, of course, to provide evidence.
Sincerely,
Usually dogs attack people during demi-season periods, especially in spring and autumn. Everyone should know what to do if bitten by a dog.
If very big square a bite, especially if there is a lot of blood flowing and it is difficult for you to move around - the first thing to do is urgently call an ambulance or ask someone to call it.
If you can get home, head to the bathroom, where you should thoroughly wash the wounds with water and (this is not a typo - with soap!). expensive soap not desirable - economic is better, it has more alkali.
Be patient and rub the bite surface for a few minutes. Try to wash all of the dog's saliva off the surface of the wound.
You can pour hydrogen peroxide on the wound, 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 out along with the blood.
Then put a gauze or cotton swab on the wound, do not press hard, wrap it with a bandage or plaster.
Whatever it was, you should definitely visit a doctor! Usually this is a trauma center at the place of residence. Of course, 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 infectious, but also foxes, cats, wolves, and in general any warm-blooded animal. Rabies is treated with a vaccine, sometimes for several months.
So how do you avoid being attacked by a dog? Why then be treated? Well, from simple tips- do not look into her eyes, do not wave your arms and legs, do not shout all over the street and do not even smile (there is no time for smiles here).
It is understandable that some dogs do not care what you do and, regardless of this, they may attack you.
If the danger is too close, try to somehow avoid a collision. You can use the entrance of the house, a gate, a store, a telephone booth, some high place where an evil animal cannot reach. But just do not run to the obstacle, go at a calm pace, most importantly facing the dog.
As soon as you run, the dog will immediately overtake you. You can lean against a wall or a bus stop. Remove outer clothing, wrap it around your hand, pull it forward.
In some cases, you can try to seize the initiative. You can command the dog "No!", "Fu!". Often this helps.
Dogs are very afraid of opening an umbrella. If he is with you, use him. For any dog, the sudden opening of an umbrella has a deterrent effect. Sometimes ordinary sand under your feet helps - throw it in the muzzle of the enemy.
If you've had trouble with dogs before, you may need a psychologist. And maybe classes in special groups with dogs. There you will learn not to be afraid of dogs at all, understand their nature, and maybe fall in love again and understand these very kind and most importantly devoted animals.
Dog - best friend person. With this statement, of course, most people agree. Indeed, the devotion of this animal has become a byword. However, despite its remarkable qualities, a dog can cause significant harm to a person - bite. Everyone should know what to do if a dog attacks, how to minimize the harm from meeting an aggressive animal, and how to treat the consequences of bites.
Why is a dog bite dangerous?
More than 150 thousand Russians seek medical help every year after being attacked and bitten by dogs. Dozens of people are dying from rabies transmitted by dog bites. The number of cases of dog aggression is increasing in summer period, and people suffer more from pets than from the homeless. Most often, bites are received by adult men and children: babies of two to four years of age and adolescents of 10–14 years.
The worst thing is the bites of dogs of fighting and some service breeds: german shepherds, bull terriers, rottweilers, pit bulls, dobermans. The bite force of these animals is very high and they cause serious damage.
A dog bite is an injury, the danger of which depends on many factors:
- Bite forces - wounds can be different:
- superficial (stab), when the integrity of the skin is slightly disturbed; such injuries in the absence of complications heal quite quickly;
- torn when bites are much deeper - torn can be soft tissues, and in some especially severe cases, joints, bones, and ligamentous apparatus are damaged.
- Bite sites: in adults, the legs (ankles) and arms (hands and forearms) are most often affected, dogs can bite children on the neck, face, head. The most dangerous is the damage in the neck and head, deep wounds in these places can be fatal.
- Dog health conditions - with the saliva of an aggressive animal, various bacteria and viruses enter the wound, among which the rabies virus is the worst.
Rabies is a severe disease that is transmitted through the saliva of a sick animal. The disease is terrible with a 100% fatal outcome. You can become infected with the virus not only when saliva enters a bitten wound, but also in the case of salivation of damaged skin or mucous membranes.
It is worth knowing that the virus is contained in the secretions of the animal 8-10 days before visible symptoms illness. Therefore, with the bite of any dog, even seemingly healthy, it is necessary to contact medical institution.
The fact that the dog is sick can be determined by its appearance and behavior:
- salivation, foaming from the mouth;
- sagging of the lower jaw;
- vomiting
- periodic convulsions;
- a hoarse, muffled bark.
It is likely that an aggressive dog that droops, drools excessively, and has seizures has rabies. The dog is excited, aggressive, ready to attack, can gnaw the ground or objects that have fallen into its field of vision.
What is the likelihood of contracting rabies from a sick animal? It directly depends on which part of the body the bite fell on. If the area of the neck or facial tissue is damaged, then the possibility of getting sick is very high and amounts to 90%. With a bite on the hand, the probability of infection is 50-60%, if the lower leg, shoulder or thigh is injured, then the percentage is even lower - about 20.
In addition to infection with rabies, after a bite, there is a high probability of developing tetanus, the causative agent of which can be present in the soil, on various objects and easily get into the wound. Tetanus is a disease whose prognosis is always disappointing.
In addition to the possibility of getting sick with tetanus or rabies, dog bites can carry the following consequences:
- Significant blood loss if the wounds are very serious; large arteries may be torn or organs damaged, causing internal bleeding.
- Wound infection - occurs in 15–20% of all bites; more often it is a local purulent-inflammatory process, in rare cases - systemic infection with the development of a formidable complication - sepsis. In the mouth of a dog, there are many different microorganisms that are pathogenic to humans. Once in the wound, microbes cause it to become infected. Depending on the type of pathogens that got into the wound and the condition immune system affected development time inflammatory response varies from 8 to 24 hours.
- Psychological trauma. Attack aggressive dog especially dangerous for children, pregnant women and the elderly. Weak children, old people and women are not able to actively fight back the animal, so there is a high risk of serious injury. In addition, bites threaten consequences in the form of shock in the child and the threat of termination of pregnancy in the expectant mother. A bite from an elderly person can result in a heart attack, requiring immediate attention.
Symptoms: local and general reaction to the bite
IN best case, if the dog is not very large and the bite fell on a part of the body covered with thick clothing, you can only get rid of hematomas from compression of soft tissues with teeth without damaging the skin. Even a weak bite of a dog is quite painful; with severe injuries, the pain is very pronounced.
Puncture wound - skin punctures with minor bleeding which is easy to stop. After the blood stops, the wound may ooze, edema (swelling) and redness occur around the punctures, a rash in the form small pimples, the skin may itch or, conversely, become insensitive (numbness). These signs indicate that the bite is quite deep and an inflammatory reaction is developing. ABOUT purulent process may speak of increased pain, swelling, discharge from the wound with characteristic odor, and these symptoms appear a few hours after the bite. Nearby lymph nodes are enlarged, joins general weakness, fever.
A dog can inflict with its teeth stab wounds and abrasions - such injuries in the absence of infection are easier to treat than lacerations The lacerations are accompanied heavy bleeding, pain, severe weakness and malaise, pain shock is possible. The likelihood of infection with such injuries is much higher.
Tissue damage from bites large dogs can be very significant If the bitten dog was sick with rabies, then the first signs of infection in humans can be detected as early as a week after the attack. Time initial manifestations disease is associated with the site of the bite, the depth and extent of the injury. The closer the damage is to the head (brain), the sooner symptoms appear.
The first period of the disease is short - only 1-2 days, it manifests itself in this way:
- in the area of \u200b\u200bhealed bite, soreness occurs again;
- body temperature may rise;
- worried about headache and severe weakness;
- the infected person becomes irritable, depressed, loses appetite, develops causeless anxiety, fear, melancholy, disturbed sleep.
Further development disease leads to irreversible damage the work of the most important centers (respiratory and vasomotor) and the patient dies.
The most terrible consequence of a dog bite is infection deadly disease rabies The prodromal phenomena characteristic of rabies are similar to the first signs of at least dangerous disease- tetanus. Incubation period This severe infectious disease lasts from a week to a month. The patient has a dull nagging pain at the site of injury, the surrounding muscles may tense and twitch. During this period, the patient may complain of weakness, headache, sweating, loss of appetite. Then the symptoms characteristic of the disease join - tension and convulsions of the chewing and mimic muscles (trismus and "sardonic smile"), painful difficulty in swallowing, strong tension neck muscles. The further development of the infection is manifested by tetanic (generalized) convulsions - the strongest involuntary contractions skeletal muscle while the patient feels excruciating pain. In the worst case, tetanus can lead to muscle tears, compression fractures spine, asphyxia and cardiac arrest.
What to do in case of a bite wound
If the bite is not up to blood, and the dog simply clenched the soft tissues with its teeth, it is enough to wash off the saliva that has got on the skin with a stream of water and soap, disinfect this place with any available antiseptic (hydrogen peroxide, chlorhexidine, alcohol) and apply cold.
With any bite to the point of blood, even if the aggression was shown by a pet that received vaccinations, you must contact the nearest medical institution - emergency room, clinic, hospital. Extensive lacerations, especially in the head area, require first aid and an immediate call for an ambulance. Early treatment and prevention of rabies and tetanus can save the victim's life.
First aid
Before sending a bitten person to the hospital or the arrival of an ambulance, certain manipulations must be carried out. Action algorithm:
- Wash the wound thoroughly. To do this, you need a stream of water and soap. The best option- laundry soap (the rabies virus dies in an alkaline environment) or liquid soap, detergent(Not washing powder!) which is needed in in large numbers dissolve in cold boiled water. If this is not available, you can use clean bottled or tap water. The liquid should not be too warm, so as not to provoke even more bleeding, and very cold, so as not to cause a sharp vascular spasm.
After a bite, the wound must be washed with soap and water, preferably household - If the bleeding is not too massive and large main vessels, you need to allow blood to flow freely from the wound so that impurities are washed away with it.
- Bite treatment. The wound itself (cavity) can be disinfected with a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution, the edges of the damage must be treated with any available antiseptic: an iodine-containing preparation (5% iodine solution, Betadine), 70% ethyl alcohol, Miramistin, Chlorhexidine.
After washing with soapy water, the bitten wound should be washed with a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution. - Apply a bandage to the wound, preferably sterile: bandage, napkin, gauze. If there is no sterile material or bandages, you can apply a clean cotton cloth and bandage it loosely.
After treatment of the wound, it is necessary to apply a bandage to it, preferably sterile - Severe bleeding should be stopped with a tourniquet or maximum flexion of the affected limb. Elevated position of the injured arm or leg will also help.
The wound should not be cauterized, any ointments should be applied, bandaged tightly, napkins, bandages, etc. should be placed in the cavity.
Further treatment
Upon arrival at the hospital, the patient is treated for bites:
- scratches, abrasions, small puncture wounds are treated with an antiseptic and a sterile bandage is applied;
- deep lacerations are subject to PST (primary surgical treatment):
- under local or general anesthesia removed from the wound foreign objects, blood clots, dead tissue;
- treat the cavity with antiseptic solutions.
To prevent secondary infection, sutures are not applied to bitten wounds. Sutured large vessels in case of massive bleeding or torn tissues with very extensive injuries. At the same time, primary sutures are applied with a drainage-flushing system, secondary sutures are applied, or skin plastic surgery is performed. The latter is indicated for elimination cosmetic defects- if the bites fell on the soft tissues of the face.
Bitten wounds of small size are treated with antiseptics and no stitches are applied. According to indications, diagnostic measures can be carried out:
- taking swabs for bacteriological research material;
- blood sampling to identify infectious agents;
- ultrasonic or x-ray examination if it is suspected to be present deep in the wound foreign body or injury to bones and joints.
After the measures taken, the patient may be allowed to go home or offered hospitalization. Indications for inpatient treatment are the following states:
- extensive deep damage;
- signs of wound infection (fever, swelling and redness of surrounding tissues, purulent discharge);
- infection with dangerous pathogens;
- patient's immunocompromised state.
Along with local treatment, the patient is given systemic therapy, which includes antibiotics - for dog bites, Amoxiclav or Augmentin, Ceftriaxone or Ciprofloxacin, Lincomycin are prescribed. Antibiotic therapy continues for 7 days.
The decision to use is decided by the doctor on an individual basis; dog bites are usually treated with penicillins or cephalosporins If treatment is carried out in a hospital, the victim is prescribed intravenous drip introduction physiological or 5% glucose solution. At big blood loss- blood substitutes.
At home for prevention purulent inflammation you can apply washing with a 1% solution of Dioxidine, apply a synthomycin emulsion to the wound. Change the bandage as needed.
Video - what to do if bitten by a dog
Preventive vaccination
After the attack and bites of the dog, the victim must undergo anti-rabies (against rabies) vaccination and administration tetanus toxoid. Rabies vaccination is not done if the aggressor is a domestic dog vaccinated against rabies, while the owner has documented evidence of this fact.
A patient bitten by a stray or unvaccinated domestic dog may be given rabies immunoglobulin (before the vaccine is given) if no more than 72 hours have passed since the attack. Immunoglobulin, which is ready-made antibodies that neutralize the virus, is injected around the wound and into its depth. This method is used if the damage occurred on the neck, face, head, genitals, or in case of very deep wounds regardless of location, as well as in the case when the saliva of the attacking dog got on the mucous membranes, for example, in the eye or mouth.
The rabies vaccine (a weakened virus that stimulates the production of antibodies to the pathogen) is injected intramuscularly into the upper arm. The course consists of only 6 procedures according to the scheme: after the first injection, 2 days should pass, after the second - 3 days, next vaccination do on the 14th day after the first injection, then on the 30th and 90th day.
The course of vaccination against rabies consists of 6 injections according to a certain scheme. The number of injections depends on the information about the bitten dog. It is recommended to keep an eye on the animal that attacked for 10 days. If during this time the dog has not become ill with rabies, the victim receives only 3 injections of the rabies vaccine. In the event of the death of an animal or the impossibility of obtaining data about it, a full course of vaccinations is carried out. The victim should be treated regardless of the time of treatment, even if several months have passed since the incident.
There may be side reactions to the vaccine:
- fever;
- headache;
- swelling of the cervical and axillary lymph nodes;
- locally - soreness, swelling and redness at the injection site.
After the introduction of immunoglobulin, complications are possible:
- development of a local allergic reaction (after 1–2 days);
- anaphylactic shock;
- serum sickness (one week after the injection).
Therefore, the places of vaccination and administration of immunoglobulin should be equipped with means for anti-shock measures, and the medical staff will observe the patient for 30 minutes after injections.
During the course of treatment and six months later, you can not use alcoholic drinks, overheat and hypothermia, perform heavy physical work.
Video - how to protect yourself from rabies
Alternative methods of treating bites
Non-traditional treatment cannot replace a visit to the doctor. Apply folk recipes possible only as an addition to traditional methods therapy dog bites.
Traditional healers offer different variants treatment of bitten wounds: local compresses, reception herbal infusions and decoctions inside. In any case, the wound must first be thoroughly washed with soap and water. Then you can make lotions or compresses, for which they use:
- saline solution (1 large spoon per liter of boiled water);
- diluted 1:1 alcohol tincture propolis;
- fresh aloe juice;
- a mixture of garlic, onion and salt (1 tablespoon of grated onion and garlic with the addition of a teaspoon of salt);
- onion gruel with honey (1 chopped onion mixed with a tablespoon of honey);
- fresh nettle, crushed to a homogeneous gruel with the addition of salt;
- crushed leaves of the meadowsweet (shelomaynik) or plantain;
- dry herb powder;
- herbal infusion:
- 1 st. St. John's wort mixed with 2 tbsp. spoons of yarrow, pour boiling water (300 ml), let it brew for 2-3 hours; strain and apply gauze pads soaked in the product to the wound;
- infusion of eucalyptus or calendula flowers (20 g of dry raw materials per 300 ml of boiling water).
These remedies can only be used for minor puncture injuries. With lacerations, you must definitely go to the hospital.
Inside, you can take decoctions and infusions of herbs with wound healing and bactericidal action.
Infusion of cloves:
- Dry cloves (10-15 pieces) are steamed in a glass of boiling water.
- Insist 1.5-2 hours, strain.
- Take 1 large spoon three times a day before meals.
Sweet clover herb infusion:
- In a glass of boiling water, you need to take 1 teaspoon of the plant, insist for 6 hours.
- Drink the medicine in a tablespoon 3 times a day before meals.
Immortelle tincture:
- Pour 10 g of dry raw materials with boiling water (250 ml), insist for an hour.
- Take 1 large spoon three times a day half an hour before meals.
Photo gallery - non-traditional treatment of dog bite wounds
Immortelle is used to treat dog bites both externally and internally. 
Cloves have disinfectant and wound healing properties, so its infusion is used to treat dog bites 
Sweet clover is used as a wound healing agent 
Grinded nettle leaves are applied to the site of bites. 
Onion-honey mixture is used to treat bites as an anti-inflammatory agent. 
fresh leaves plantain or juice from them is applied to bitten wounds for healing 
Aloe juice has powerful anti-inflammatory and regenerating properties. 
Calendula is famous for its anti-inflammatory properties, so it is used to treat wounds, including bites.
Nutrition of the victim
There is no need to follow a special diet after a dog bite. Nutrition should be complete, rich in vitamins and minerals in order to accelerate the regeneration of damaged tissues. You need to consume foods high content vitamins of groups B, C, A, E, K and D.
In the first days after strong bites, given the possibility of developing an inflammatory reaction, acidosis and edema in the area of injury, it is advisable to eat alkalizing foods (vegetables and fruits) and somewhat limit salt in the diet.
- protein sources:
- veal, turkey, chicken, dairy and sour-milk products;
- correct carbs:
- fresh fruits, vegetables (including legumes and leafy), berries, whole grain bread, cereals; To improve metabolic processes and speedy healing, you need to drink enough fluids - at least 2 liters per day, including natural juices, rosehip broth, dried fruit infusion. Alcohol should be excluded from the diet, the consumption of animal fats, smoked meats, fast food should be minimized. confectionery, products with food additives, dyes and capable of causing allergic reaction. Healthy balanced diet help damaged tissues recover faster.
- respect her personal space: the place where she sleeps and eats, folds her toys - it is very important to teach this to the youngest members of the family;
- do not tease or annoy the dog when he eats;
- do not allow children to play too actively with the pet, especially alone - the dog may bite by accident, carried away by the game;
- do not try to take away puppies from a lactating bitch;
- do not separate the dogs if another animal attacked the pet during the walk;
- limit the contact of strangers with your dog - protecting the owners and the territory, even the most peaceful dog can behave inappropriately.
- you need to bypass dog packs or lonely aggressive dogs, by all means try to avoid contact with such animals;
- if you couldn’t get away from the dog, you can’t run away, look the animal in the eyes, show fear;
- you should not attack first, you need to try to slowly leave the territory that the dog most likely considers his own and guards;
- if the animal is preparing for an attack, you can try to stop it with a loud cry, a handful of sand or earth thrown into your eyes, or improvised means (bag, umbrella, stick, stone) - the dog should see something in the hands of a person;
- for lovers of cycling or jogging, it is advisable to get a stun gun or an ultrasonic animal repeller.
How to avoid
Not only a stray dog can attack a person. AND a pet, if provoked, can cause serious harm. In order not to be bitten by a domestic dog, you must:
In addition, the pet must be vaccinated, trained and educated in a timely manner. Wanting to grow out of a dog reliable guard, some owners encourage her tendency to aggression. If there are no special training skills service dogs, you can sooner or later pay with your own health for such an unreasonable upbringing. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for dogs to severely bite their owners or small children living in the family.
encouraging aggressive behavior his pet, the owner runs the risk of being bitten To avoid being attacked by a yard dog:
Video - Dr. Komarovsky in detail about dog bites
Dogs are ours four-legged friends. Loving animals is wonderful. However, do not forget that even a domestic dog is a beast, and its behavior is sometimes unpredictable. By following the rules of behavior with pets and street mongrels, you can avoid bites and their consequences in the form of serious infectious diseases.
