Dog Bites FAQ
What should I do after a dog bite or animal attack?
If you or a family member have been bitten by a dog, YOU SHOULD SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION IMMEDIATELY. The risks of serious infection and rabies are significant.
What is rabies?
Rabies is a serious disease that can result from a dog attack or bite. Rabies is a virus that affects the nervous system. Due to vaccinations, the rabies virus is rare in the United States - especially among domestic animals. Although the incidence of rabies is low, it is imperative that you get treatment to rule it out. Rabies is 100% fatal if it is not treated before symptoms appear. It is also 100% preventable. Since rabid dogs can spread the disease through their saliva, a victim of a dog bite may be exposed to rabies when bitten.
After possible exposure to the rabies virus, wound care and vaccinations are the most effective preventive treatment methods to stop the spread of infection. All wounds should be thoroughly cleansed. Vaccinations (postexposure prophylaxis or PEP) should quickly be given if the risk of exposure to the virus is high. The vaccination helps the body's immune system destroy the disease in its early stages before symptoms appear. Once the symptoms of rabies develop, the disease nearly always is fatal.
I don't have rabies but I'm afraid I'll have a scar. What can I do?
Disease and infection are the most serious consequences of dog bites, but they are by no means the only ones. Scarring is another. A scar can leave a lasting impact on a young person, and dog bite scars tend to be present in visible areas, like the face, neck, hands, or legs. If you have been scarred by a dog bite, you are entitled to the money it would cost to surgically repair the scar. We understand the impact a scar can have on a person’s life.
How could this happen?
Dog bite prevention involves measures taken by dog owners and potential victims alike. Dog owners are most often responsible for dog bite injury consequences, therefore it is important that dog owners reduce the risks that their dog will bite. Owners can do this by altering their animal, training and treating their dog humanely, socializing their dogs to new environments, and obeying all restraint and confinement laws. Potential victims can decrease their risk of dog bite attacks by applying caution to their encounters with unknown, fearful or aggressive dogs. Teaching kids to avoid strange or unknown dogs, and how to properly treat animals, can also reduce their chances of becoming dog bite victims.
