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Severe pain after a dog bite. Bitten by a dog: what to do

Since ancient times, a dog has lived next to a person, shared his shelter and played with his children. Can you doubt her loyalty and friendliness? If the animal is domestic, does not show aggression and is healthy, then no. What about other dogs that constantly live on the street? The street mongrel is a formidable enemy that defends its territory and itself. In this case, the bite is more a pattern than a surprise. Let's figure out what to do if a dog bites you.

Before understanding what needs to be done, it is important to understand the types of bites. Bites caused by dog teeth are divided into two types:

Puncture wounds – the depth exceeds the width of the damage. In this case, bleeding occurs at the site of injury, which requires immediate assistance. First of all, the bleeding is stopped, then the wounds are treated with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory agents, and a gauze bandage is applied over the injuries.
Lacerations are caused by teeth sliding across the skin while applying pressure. This bite has noticeable damage to the skin and is more dangerous than a puncture bite. The skin may peel off or even be partially scalped. Most often the limbs are affected, both upper and lower. In situations with children, the most vulnerable place is the face and head. In most cases, stitches are required and treatment continues under the supervision of a specialist.

Symptoms of a dog bite

Bites can leave either a small wound or significant damage. In both cases, a person may face dangerous complications. As a rule, symptoms appear immediately:

Wound infection. Already during the bite or after, there is a risk of infection. In this situation, the person begins to feel feverish and shiver. Body temperature rises. The skin around the injury turns red, swells, and the lymph nodes become significantly enlarged.
. Large dogs with powerful jaws can not only break, but also crush human bones. This especially applies to dogs of fighting breeds.
Damage to muscle tissue and bleeding (both external and internal).
Suppuration of wounds. Without timely assistance and care for the injury, very often pus begins to accumulate in the tissues.
Infection with various infections - E. coli, ticks and, most dangerously,...

In any case, after an animal attack, you must seek medical help. If a person has lost consciousness or feels feverish or is vomiting, then you should not hesitate, but immediately call an emergency ambulance. In this case, we are talking about possible consequences such as disability and even death.

Among the most dangerous consequences is infection with rabies. This case is worth considering in more detail.

Signs of rabies in humans

As soon as the virus enters the body, an incubation period immediately begins, which on average lasts from 1 to 3 months. The further the site of infection is from the brain, the longer this period will be. There are three stages of the disease:

Initial. Duration from 1 to 3 days. Even if the wound heals, the person begins to “feel” it, this may be a feeling of pain, burning, itching. The scar may become swollen, the temperature rises to 37°C and remains at this level. The person’s condition changes - he feels weak, upset stools and the urge to vomit occur. During the same period, he begins to be haunted by various hallucinations and a depressive state. Sleep is disturbed and nightmares appear.
Excitement stage (2-3 days). Characterized by the development of hydrophobia, fear of water. The sight, and subsequently the sound, of water provokes spasms of the swallowing and respiratory muscles. The person develops convulsions and a feeling of overwhelming fear. The patient's gaze is focused at one point, the pupils dilate.
Stage of paralysis (from 12 hours to 1 day). Outwardly, a person calms down, his functions of movement and feelings fade away. Body temperature rises to 42°C, blood pressure drops, and heart rate increases. A person dies due to paralysis of the heart muscle or respiratory organs.

Vaccinating a person against rabies

At the slightest suspicion of the disease, a person is vaccinated in the buttock or forearm. Of course, it does not consist of 40 mythical injections, but only six, which completely remove the virus. The vaccination schedule is as follows:

it is initially placed on the day a person is admitted to a medical facility;
then after three days;
on the seventh day;
two weeks later, on the 14th day;
a month later, on the 30th day;
three months later, on the 90th day.

Rabies vaccination is the only cure. In some cases, if after 10 days the dog is alive and well, then vaccination of the person is stopped.

When a vaccine may not help

For a healthy person before a dog bite, the vaccine is a 100% salvation. But there are a number of reasons when it may not work:

congenital weakness of the immune system;
long-term treatment with glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants;
delayed vaccination;
expired or improperly stored vaccine;
missed procedures;
drinking alcohol.

What to do after a dog bite

After being bitten by a dog (even one that has vaccinations), the victim needs help:

First of all, you need to inspect the damage - determine the severity of the injury, whether bones, large vessels, or ligaments have been damaged.
Before treatment, you need to stop the bleeding. If an artery is affected, then it is necessary to apply a tourniquet above the damaged area, but in the case of a vein being affected, a tight-fitting bandage will be sufficient.
The bite is treated as follows: washed with boiled water with the addition of hydrogen peroxide; if there is no remedy, then soapy water will do; Afterwards, the wound is treated with an antiseptic - a weak solution of potassium permanganate or furacillin. The skin around the injury can be lubricated with iodine solution or brilliant green.
The treated wound is covered with a gauze bandage, which should not be tightened too much if there is no bleeding.

Often, such procedures are quite sufficient to avoid complications and achieve successful tissue healing.

Video on the topic

When medical attention and treatment is needed

All severe injuries require examination by a traumatologist. Both puncture and laceration wounds can lead to significant complications. Most lacerations require stitches, and any facial wounds or bites to the head should also see a doctor.

If a child has been injured, often in addition to medical assistance, consultation with a psychologist will be required.

For minor injuries, you can treat the bite yourself, following the basic rules:

Inspect and treat the wound daily.
Do not wet the affected area.
Replace the bandage with a new one every day.
If minor discharge appears from the bitten area, you will need to rinse with an antiseptic solution (do not use hydrogen peroxide at this time), and then sprinkle the bite with talcum powder (you can use baby powder).
Use ointment under the bandage if the wound is not wet and without discharge.

Among ointments, Synthomycin ointment and Balsamic Liniment according to Vishnevsky are highly effective for bites and other wounds. It is recommended to use Panthenol and Akutol sprays as an antiseptic.

If the damage is serious, then only a doctor can provide appropriate treatment. If the wound becomes infected, a course of antibiotics is prescribed.

In case of emergency assistance, an ambulance is called; in other situations, you can contact a therapist at the clinic or immediately an infectious disease doctor.

Of course, a dog bite is an unpleasant and sometimes dangerous phenomenon. But the animal is not always to blame for such a phenomenon. You should not be careless and approach unfamiliar dogs, try to pet them, much less show aggression, as you may run into a “reaction.” In the event of an attack, the victim should be given first aid and taken to the clinic independently or called an ambulance.

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.
The most dangerous dogs are 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 on the legs (in adults), and in children on the head, face, and neck.

More than 15% of all dog bites are complicated by infection and the development of an inflammatory process.
For humans, the most common source of a fatal disease like rabies is sick dogs.

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 human bloodstream.

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 an infected wound is mixed. All of the listed microorganisms are found in the dog’s mouth and, when bitten, enter 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 an unpleasant odor
Enlargement of 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– a severe infectious disease 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. In the absence of timely treatment, it 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 recent years, rabies has been reported in beavers, ferrets, badgers, gray rats, martens, wild cats, moose, house mice, and gray rats.
Distributors of the disease can be: squirrels, muskrats, nutria, hamsters, bears, bats.

2. Pets, such as dogs, cats, small and cattle, etc., which 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
Dropping of the lower jaw
Hoarse and muffled barking
I occasionally have seizures

Behavior:

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

Mechanism of disease development

Through damaged areas of the skin or through mucous membranes, the virus penetrates into the 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, 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 bite area (which occurs long after the bite on a healed wound)
Possible increase in temperature
Mental state disturbance (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), a loud sound (acousticophobia), or 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 carried out for persons who have a high risk of contracting rabies (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 of 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 of 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 positive effects at once: it will mechanically remove various contaminants that have entered the wound, stop bleeding and disinfect 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 applied only for large wounds, to stop bleeding in 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 of the 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 a 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 (upper part of the 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) Day 14 (1ml) Day 30 (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 all the necessary conditions to provide anti-shock 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 (rare): 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 of 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 areas where rabies is not common in domestic animals, apparently healthy dogs and cats should be isolated and observed 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 bitten animal has been vaccinated, and the owner of the dog has all the necessary 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 extremities and torso (except for the genitals, face, head, fingers and toes). Scheme 2 (with immunoglobulin): in case of contact with saliva on mucous membranes, bites in the area of the face, head, neck, genitals, fingers and toes, in case of deep bites regardless of the location of the bite, in case of bites of any nature inflicted by wild animals, rodents, flying mice. 3. If a person who has received a full course of vaccines after a dog bite is attacked again, but 1 year has not passed since the last injection. Then such a person will receive only 3 injections with the vaccine (on the 0th, 3rd and 7th day). 4. A child’s infancy 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 an unfamiliar dog
Don't leave your child alone with the dog

Despite the generally accepted opinion that a dog is a man's friend, cases of a dog biting a person are far from uncommon. This problem is especially relevant in spring and autumn - off-season periods equally affect the psyche of all mammals, including humans, but large predators become especially dangerous, and in urban conditions these are dogs. Every day, hundreds of people come to emergency rooms with injuries from dog bites of varying degrees of complexity. This situation, for natural reasons, leaves a person in bewilderment and panic, and he cannot always figure out what to do and what should not be done in any case if he is bitten by a dog.

Panic and even shock of a person bitten by a dog are understandable: this is a natural reaction to an attack by a predator. Very often after this a person feels a loss of strength - this is also a natural reaction of the body to the stress experienced and, possibly, the mobilization of all physical capabilities to repel the attack, and therefore, upon arriving home, he immediately goes to bed. This cannot be done under any circumstances - we need to act, and urgently. The opposite situation is that the bitten person exhibits erratic motor activity - this is also a reaction to stress, but in this case at least you can give him a sedative and help him take the right actions.

So, if someone is bitten by a dog, what should you do next? Firstly, you need to immediately seek medical help, since such bites are fraught with all sorts of consequences. First you need to assess his condition: if the wounds are shallow and do not interfere with movement, this does not mean that everything is in order, and you will still have to go to the emergency room - this is where first aid is provided to those bitten by animals. If the condition is serious, or the wounds are deep, and the bleeding is intense, then you need to immediately call an ambulance, otherwise everything can end very badly. It is well known that the sooner first aid is provided for various injuries, the faster and more completely it will be possible to minimize their consequences, and if intense bleeding is observed, then assistance should be provided in the coming minutes. In case of arterial bleeding (bright red blood comes out of the wound under pressure, and the stream pulsates), you need to try to squeeze the damaged artery with your fingers above the wound site, that is, closer to the heart, even before the ambulance arrives. In this case, even squeezing the damaged vessel directly with your fingers directly in the wound would be a justified measure, especially if the bleeding is very heavy, since literally seconds count.

If the condition allows, you need to wash the wounds from animal saliva as quickly as possible - if the dog is infected, this can reduce the risk of infection. As is known, in addition to rabies, dogs are carriers of other diseases, and in their mouths live bacteria alien to the human body that can cause long-term inflammatory processes. What you need to learn in cases where a dog has bitten is that you don’t need to do anything with the wound itself - just wash it, treat only the skin around it and apply a non-pressure bandage so that no dirt gets into it during independent transportation - it’s better to let a specialist take care of it. Of course, in emergency cases you need to act according to the situation, but if the condition is not serious, then it is better to rely on the experience of doctors.

After examination by specialists, you will have to undergo a series of vaccinations. In particular, this is the well-known rabies vaccination, or rabies vaccination. Prevention of rabies in Russia is free for everyone, and the promotion of rabies vaccinations is also quite effective: every child will answer the question without hesitation: Here it must be said that the information about this vaccine, which most of us have, is very outdated: no one has been given the dreaded forty for a long time injections in the stomach immediately, and over three months 5-6 doses of a modern drug are administered, which causes much fewer cases of individual intolerance than was the case with the previous generation vaccine. Rabies vaccination must be carried out in any case, even if it is your dog, the only exception may be that the dog has a certificate of anti-rabies vaccination, no more than a year has passed since that date, but this is very rare. If you neglect rabies vaccination and do not do it within a week after the bite, then if the disease occurs, it is guaranteed. Considering that cases of rabies in wild and domestic animals and even people are becoming more frequent, it’s still not worth the risk.

You will also most likely need to get a tetanus vaccination. These vaccinations are given at the emergency room free of charge to all victims.

If a person is bitten by a dog, what should one do with it? It is clear that this animal most likely has mental problems and poses a danger to society, especially if it attacked a child - usually dogs are lenient towards children, and if a child was bitten by a dog as an adult, then it has absolutely nothing to do with people. Of course, there are different cases, and each situation must be carefully studied, but the following things remain unconditional: if a dog attacked a child, if the dog attacked first, if the dog caused very serious injuries, and even more so if they led to death - its needs to be isolated from society. Of course, there are cases when an animal was defending itself or guarding something and did not calculate its strength - but they differ sharply from those when it intended to kill. Killer dogs are usually subject to destruction.

A dog has been a faithful friend and companion of man for many millennia. This is one of the first animals domesticated by ancient people, which serves us faithfully to this day. Humans and dogs belong to the same branch of a complex tree of species of living beings - the class mammals, therefore most diseases are identical for both humans and dogs, and such diseases are called anthropozoonoses. You should always remember this when trying to make friends with an unfamiliar puppy.

The most severe diseases, the source of which are viruses and bacteria, are transmitted through fluids containing large concentrations of pathogenic microorganisms - blood, saliva, urine. The rabies virus, which is contained in large proportions in the saliva of a sick dog and enters the human blood through a bite, is no exception.

What to do after a dog bite

It is necessary to understand the key rule of rabies prevention: after being bitten by a dog, it does not matter whether it is domestic or unfamiliar, you must immediately contact a medical facility. Immediately means interrupting everything you’re doing and walking, or better yet, running. It takes very little time for the virus to enter the brain. There is no need to waste precious minutes providing first aid on the spot, unless there is massive bleeding that needs to be stopped first.

If it is not possible to seek professional help in the first hours after a bite, it is necessary to treat the wounds yourself: thoroughly rinsing with water and laundry soap, then generously treating the edges and walls of the wound with 40% ethyl alcohol, or vodka. It is possible to treat with iodine and then bandage it.
If a domestic dog bites, this only simplifies the situation of accurately diagnosing rabies, and therefore the likelihood of infecting a person.

When bitten by a dog, treatment is provided immediately after treatment in order to prevent rabies. At the same time, if the animal is unfamiliar, you need to try to describe all the conditions of the incident: external signs of the dog, geographic location. Special services will be immediately sent to the site for the purpose of catching.

After aseptic treatment of the wound, anti-rabies serum is injected into the edges of the wound, deep into it and into the soft tissue around it.
Preventive vaccination (rabies vaccination), today, does not require the well-known “forty injections in the stomach.” The vaccine is administered six times in the shoulder area: at the time of treatment, then on the third, seventh, fourteenth, thirtieth and ninetieth days. If the biting animal was caught and did not show clinical signs of rabies after 10 days, then the vaccination regimen is interrupted.

During vaccination, drinking alcohol, overwork, hypothermia and overheating are prohibited.
Treatment of bite wounds is carried out as standard, depending on their nature. Extensive lacerations are particularly difficult to treat when the help of a surgeon is required. General antibiotic therapy and local antiseptic treatment are used. If the initial treatment of the wound with antiseptics is insufficient, there is a high probability of developing purulent inflammation - there is a large amount of purulent-putrefactive microflora on the teeth and in the saliva of even a healthy animal. Therefore, in case of visible complications of even the simplest scratches, you need to seek help from specialists.

Folk remedies for treating dog bites have a good therapeutic effect: a mixture of turmeric and honey; walnut kernel powder with onion and salt; daily consumption of several cloves of garlic and ascorbic acid.

How to Avoid a Dog Bite

Aggression on the part of dogs manifests itself more often towards a stranger whom they see for the first time and do not understand the nature of the actions. Based on this, it is necessary to avoid direct contact with the animal, no matter how cute it may seem at first glance.

At the moment of receiving food, the animal’s protective reflexes, which are genetically determined, are activated - the dog is always very wary of the environment at this moment. Therefore, even if it is a pet raised from a puppy, there is no need to disturb it. The same rule must be followed when the dog is in deep sleep. An aggressive defensive reaction is clearly expressed in bitches surrounded by offspring, especially during the milk period. Trying to play with puppies is a very stupid idea.

If you encounter a stray dog that begins to show signs of aggression, you should avoid contact at all costs. If this cannot be done, it is better to use a separate object to scare away. Under no circumstances should you throw this object at an animal; the probability of a hit is reduced to zero, and the level of aggression and the likelihood of an attack will increase.

The same can be said for a pack of stray dogs. Thanks to the pack reflex and different statuses within the pack, dogs, having finally chosen a person as their victim, will form a special attack style, surrounding the victim and identifying its weak points. Knowing this, it is necessary to move away as soon as possible or rise to a height inaccessible to dogs. It is not always possible to do this, so you need to remember the main rule: in no case should you be completely surrounded by animals from behind and to the sides - an attack will be inevitable. The ideal defense against attack would be to press yourself against a wall or other high surface and set something on fire around you.

In addition, you need to try not to show strong fear and, under no circumstances, turn away and run away. It is allowed to slowly step back without losing sight of the animals and without lowering your head. The leader of the pack is immediately visible: it is, as a rule, a seasoned, strong animal, staying behind the leading attackers. If possible, you need to pay extra attention to him and try to look him straight in the eye.

No matter how banal and funny it sounds, the best defense is an attack. Trying to destroy a pack of stray dogs or a shepherd of serious size is irrational, but showing your strength and confidence by responding with a chesty growl and bared teeth makes great sense. In most cases, the dogs retreat and leave on their own. In a direct frontal attack, it is necessary to put some object in front, or, if you don’t have one, your own hand, as if covering the area at chest level. The animal will definitely cling to it, this way you can avoid a death grip on the throat.

Animals with characteristic signs of rabies are especially dangerous:

severe salivation (saliva fluid hangs from the corners of the mouth in abundant threads, a crust of dried saliva on the lips);
open mouth;
constant anxiety
aggression towards other animals;
fear of the sounds of overflowing liquid.

Brief description of rabies

Rabies is an acute viral disease characterized by inflammatory lesions in areas of the white matter of the brain. Rabies belongs to the group of anthropozoonoses and is caused by a separate group of viruses, collectively called rabies viruses.

The most common route of infection with rabies is the bite of a sick animal, when the virus contained in the dog’s saliva enters directly into the human blood and travels along the ascending nerve trunks to the brain. Despite the fact that rabies as a separate disease has been known for more than 500 years, until 2005 there were no known cases of drug cure. As of 2012, science knows of only 8 cases of complete recovery from rabies in its last (terminal) stages of development. This situation puts rabies on a par with such serious infectious diseases as HIV infection and tetanus. To this day, the rabies vaccine in combination with anti-rabies serum is used as primary medical care.

Symptoms of rabies in humans

The incubation period (the time from the moment the infection enters the bloodstream until the development of the first signs of the disease) for rabies is from 10 days to a month. Science knows of extremely rare cases of prolonged manifestation of rabies: 4 and 6 years.
The duration of the incubation period directly depends on the concentration of viral bodies at the site of the bite, the level of human immunity and the resistance (stability) of his body directly to the rabies virus. At the end of the incubation period, the typical course of rabies is characterized by three stages of development, each of which has separate clinical signs:

The period of harbingers. A slight increase in general body temperature no higher than 37.5 degrees, a depressed state, insomnia, an anxious state of a person. Duration of the stage – 1-3 days;
The height of the period (hydrophobic stage). A strong, unpredictable emotional reaction of a person to even the most insignificant light and sound stimuli, which is accompanied by muscle spasms of the limbs. Specific symptoms of this stage are fear of the sound of water and air movement, which instantly causes in patients an uncontrollable feeling of aggression, delirium, fear, and hallucinations. Duration – up to 4 days;
The period of paralysis or the terminal (final, preceding death) stage. This period is also called the “sinister calm stage.” It is characterized by paralysis of the muscles of the face and limbs with the transition of paralysis to other systems of the body, which leads to inevitable death.

Mental and physiological signs of rabies are due to the specificity of viral activity: after penetration into the wound, the virus penetrates nerve cells and moves towards the brain, where it is localized and develops in its white matter in the form of separate formations - Babes-Negri bodies - bubble-like formations filled liquid with a predominant number of viral bodies. Negri's bubbles, having a toxic and mechanical effect on the motor centers in the brain, determine the symptoms typical of rabies.

Rabies is characterized by a lightning-fast course - on average, a week passes from the moment of the bite to death. Less commonly, the disease drags on for 12-14 days. In approximately 30% of cases of the total number of infections, rabies occurs in an atypical manner - with the subtle manifestation of clinical signs or their complete absence, which makes additional diagnosis extremely difficult. An important feature of the disease is the impossibility of intravital laboratory diagnosis, which is associated with the principles of the spread of the virus throughout the body.

An accurate diagnosis can only be made if the animal that bit the person was caught and tested for rabies. In connection with such circumstances, if a person is bitten by an unfamiliar dog or cat, they must carry out preventive and therapeutic measures using a vaccine and anti-rabies serum, without waiting for the first symptoms of rabies.

Mad dog

What could be worse than a bite from a domestic or stray dog? Only a meeting with a rabid animal that is fraught with mortal danger. Therefore, everyone needs to know not only how to protect themselves from bites, but also how to provide first aid. What are the symptoms of rabies infection in humans, what consequences can a victim expect from a dog bite.

Rabies vaccine for humans

Action	What you need to know about the rabies virus.
Methods of transmission of rabies.	The rabies virus enters the human body through the mucous membranes of the eyes, mouth, and wounds infected with the saliva of a sick animal.
How quickly the rabies virus, when bitten, causes the development of disease in humans.	The virus develops slowly, the incubation period is from 10 to 15 days, then the first signs of the disease appear. Sometimes it takes several months or a year from the moment of the bite to the development of the first symptoms.
What is the probability that a bite from a rabid dog will cause illness in a person?	The more deep the wounds, the closer to the head, the greater the likelihood of infection: 50% - for bites of the torso and thighs; 90% - for bites of the face, neck, head. The likelihood of rabies developing after a bite to the leg or arm is 30% of cases.
Ways of spread of the virus in the human body.	The virus spreads along nerve fibers and affects the nervous system.
Symptoms of rabies infection in humans from a dog bite on the leg.	Sensitivity to sharp sounds, light, water increases, and fear of these factors develops. Dryness appears in the mouth. Neurological and mental disorders (convulsions, paresis, paralysis, impaired consciousness, hallucinations). Character changes - aggressive behavior appears.
Is it possible to cure rabies?	Rabies cannot be cured. If the vaccine is not administered, death from paralysis of the respiratory system occurs 5-8 days after the end of the incubation period. Therefore, after dangerous contact with an animal, you should not wait for a possible disease to manifest itself - you should immediately seek medical help.
Where to go after an animal bite.	You need to contact a rabiology center (a rabiologist) or a local clinic (a surgeon). A bitten child must be immediately taken to the hospital to provide not only medical care, but also psychological care.
What to do if bitten by a rabid dog?	You need to treat the wound and consult a doctor. Even if the animal did not bite through the skin, but only drooled, there is a possibility of the virus entering the body.
Important to know!	Direct contact with a rabid dog can result in death. Therefore, only a doctor can determine what medical care you will need.
When should a victim be vaccinated?	The victim should be given the vaccine in the first days after the bite; if this is not possible, then no later than 10-14 days later. If after a ten-day quarantine the doctor concludes that the animal is healthy, the administration of the drug to the victim is stopped. There are no contraindications for the administration of rabies serum. Refusal to administer it is tantamount to death.
What to do if bitten by a domestic dog.	If the dog is unvaccinated, it must be isolated for 10 days to be tested for rabies while its health status is monitored. If after 10 days the animal does not show symptoms of rabies, it must be vaccinated and released from isolation. An animal with rabies must be euthanized
How to find out if a dog is mad or not.	Only by observing the behavior and health of the dog for 10 days can you determine whether it is rabid or not. Stray dogs suspected of having the disease are caught and quarantined.
How does rabies manifest in a dog?	As with any disease, the onset is characterized by an incubation period lasting from several days to several months. A person should be alerted to the dog’s unusual behavior, lethargy, or, conversely, aggressiveness. Convulsive yawning of the animal, breathing problems, drooling, hoarse barking, paresis and paralysis are obvious signs of the disease. With rabies, the death of the animal most often occurs within 3-5 days.
How often should pets be vaccinated against rabies?	Vaccinations are carried out annually, which is noted in the veterinary passport. The only way to save your pet's life is by compulsory annual vaccination. Rabies is a fatal disease with no cure.

Rabies vaccine for dogs and cats

Rabies vaccination: questions and answers

Here we have collected answers to the most frequently asked questions from readers about the possible consequences of a dog bite.

Is it possible to drink alcohol during the rabies vaccination period?

Anti-rabies injections for humans and alcohol are incompatible.

Drinking alcohol during rabies treatment from the first vaccination to six months reduces the effectiveness of the vaccine.

Can a dog that bites an HIV-infected person become a source of infection for healthy people?

This virus does not affect dogs, so there is no need to worry about HIV/AIDS. Much more dangerous than injuries from the bites themselves is the likelihood of rabies.

How many injections are given if the dog that bit me is not found? How long does it take to get the first injection?

Instructions for providing anti-rabies care prescribe 6 injections.

The first injection (the so-called zero) is done at the time of visiting the doctor.
Then injections, if the animal is not found or has rabies, are carried out according to the following scheme: on days 3, 7, 14, 30, 30, 90 after the first vaccination.
If no signs of rabies are detected in the animal within 10 days, injections are stopped.

Is it possible for me to get a preventive vaccination against rabies? I often feed stray dogs, but I’m afraid of getting infected?

It would be more correct to report stray dogs to the veterinary service so that they can be vaccinated and placed in a shelter.

Any stray dog is a potential threat to the health and life of a child or adult.

The vaccination is valid for only a year, after which the threat of infection of the animal remains again. Preventive vaccination is carried out:

employees of veterinary clinics and laboratories;
workers involved in catching, euthanizing, and burying stray animals;
workers processing livestock products;
speleologists, travelers traveling to areas with an increased likelihood of rabies.

My dog is vaccinated, do I need to be vaccinated again if it bites a passerby?

The veterinarian decides whether to vaccinate again. You definitely need to take the animal to the veterinary clinic for an examination and issue a certificate of the animal’s latest vaccination for the victim. His subsequent treatment will depend on this.

Is it possible to cure a domestic dog for rabies, why does a sick dog die?

Unfortunately, the animal cannot be cured; it dies from paralysis and respiratory arrest. If a pet shows symptoms of rabies, it must be isolated and euthanized.

How dangerous is a dog bite to a person if it is not infected with rabies? What consequences can be dangerous to human life?

Some dog bite diseases are difficult to treat. Bites from any dog are dangerous to life and health:

Rabies is a fatal disease, so everyone needs to know what will happen to a person if he is bitten by a rabid dog, remember the instructions for providing first aid and mandatory consultation with a doctor. You must carefully follow all doctor’s orders and do not miss vaccination dates.

Beware of stray animals, take care of your pets. If you notice signs of rabies in a stray or domestic dog, immediately notify the veterinary service - this will save the life of yourself and those around you.