Forums >Health and Nutrition>Hey, that dog just bit me!
Good Bad & The Monkey
I'm running somewhere tomorrow. It's going to be beautiful. I can't wait.
Poor baby
#2867
Run to Win25 Marathons, 17 Ultras, 16 States (Full List)
mbk, The first thing you do is find out if the dog has been vaccinated against rabies. Don't take the owners word on it. Demand to see the dog tag. If it hasn't been vaccinated, call the police.
Augmentin.
E-mail: eric.fuller.mail@gmail.com -----------------------------
Oh Mighty Wing
Imminent Catastrophe
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?
"Able to function despite imminent catastrophe"
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Cruel Jewel 50 mile May 2016
Western States 100 June 2016
OMG please tell me your tetnas (sp) is up to date!!! If not GO TO THE DOCTOR!!!!! You can get a serious serious (life threatening even) infection from animal saliva! If the area turns red and warm get yourself to the hospital! If it gets vainey you are in big trouble! (i know i make it sound serious and that's because it can be!! My fiance was bit by my dog - not the one pictured - and he cleaned it out and put off going to the doctor even though i said to and two days later he comes home says his arm is sore. I force him to the hospital and they have to give him IV antibiotics because he got this crazy infection. Then he had to be on normal antibiotics for the next 3 weeks.)
Michelle
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.
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.