Hey, that dog just bit me! (Read 1376 times)

I was getting in some extra miles before our Team in Training practice tonight when I was bit by a dog! I was running on a narrow sidewalk next to a canal when I approached a man walking his dog on a retractable leash. He didn’t have his finger on the trigger and the dog growled, lunged at me and caught me on the right knee. It happened so quickly that I didn’t even stop, just yelled a few choice words. Because I was in motion I actually pulled my knee out of the dog’s mouth, dragging his teeth across the skin. Luckily it didn’t hurt much and I finished the run. I had some cool wounds and blood so I felt like a tough guy. After that I met up with my Team in Training group and we ran the same route – actually passed the same dog (I yelled a few more choice words) but his owner was keeping him well off the trail. That's the first time that's ever happened to me. Luckily no harm done, but it could have been worse. Probably the knee was the best place to be bitten since there's not much to actually bite off.

That guy should have better control of his dog and if it is going to lunge at people should be muzzled. The last time that a dog "attacked" me while I was running wasn't the owner's fault - he tried holding the dog in but he slipped and fell on some ice. The dog didn't actually attack me; he did bite my jacket but he just wanted to play and was just enthusiastically friendly. Every other time I've passed that guy him and the dog were both well behaved. I have called animal control over dogs allowed to roam free, though, that attacked myself or some people I was running with. One was near my apartment in college. That guy didn't like me very much and gave me the evil eye every time he was outside and I ran by. He didn't like that I'd called animal control on him twice, but it kept him from letting the dog out when we were running. Of course, one summer the dog attacked a kid on a bicycle and then had to be put down, but I still don't blame the dog for that. Definitely the owner's fault.

to continue... That will set the legal and medical wheels in motion.

Augmentin.

What's the medical story on dog bites these days? They don't do the whole "you have to get rabies shots if you don't know the dog" thing any more? I was bitten as a kid and I remember my parents spending a whole panicked day hunting the dog and its owner down just so I could avoid the shots. They don't do that anymore? Please to explain.

What's the medical story on dog bites these days? They don't do the whole "you have to get rabies shots if you don't know the dog" thing any more?

I had a friend in grade school who got bitten by a dog and had to go through the whole rabies shot series, the old-school ones with the very long syringe, 20 shots in the stomach. Medieval!

What's the medical story on dog bites these days? They don't do the whole "you have to get rabies shots if you don't know the dog" thing any more? I was bitten as a kid and I remember my parents spending a whole panicked day hunting the dog and its owner down just so I could avoid the shots. They don't do that anymore? Please to explain.

If they can find and test the dog, wait for the results. By "test the dog", I mean check if it has been vaccinated or if it has the virus. If unsure, you can give rabies shots (vaccine and antibodies). In my career, we have only had to do this once. The two things folks don't think about are the more common issues: 1. Dog (and other animal) bites can lead to tetanus. As the other poster said, make sure your tetanus is up to date. EVERYBODY should be getting this every ten years. 2. Dog mouths are pretty dirty in terms of being polymicrobial. Augmentin should be taken in every case of a dog bite. Some of the nasty dog mouth bugs can kill you pretty quickly if the infection takes hold and spreads.

Next time I see a dog I'll either kick it or just turn around and run the other way. What a hassle.

I won't hesitate to kick a dog that attacks me, but unless it goes after you again you shouldn't kick it if you see it again. Kick the owner instead. He at least might have a chance of remembering why he's getting attacked.

If they can find and test the dog, wait for the results. By "test the dog", I mean check if it has been vaccinated or if it has the virus. If unsure, you can give rabies shots (vaccine and antibodies). In my career, we have only had to do this once. The two things folks don't think about are the more common issues: 1. Dog (and other animal) bites can lead to tetanus. As the other poster said, make sure your tetanus is up to date. EVERYBODY should be getting this every ten years. 2. Dog mouths are pretty dirty in terms of being polymicrobial. Augmentin should be taken in every case of a dog bite. Some of the nasty dog mouth bugs can kill you pretty quickly if the infection takes hold and spreads.

I haven't been to a doctor in a billion and a 1/2 years. I had no idea tetanus was something that needed to be "kept up." Thanks for the info...guess I better get to a doctor. Maybe.