A dog is a man’s best friend but there are incidents of dog bite occurring every year, in fact, more than 4.7 million people are subjected to dog bite -that it becomes essential to see the reasons and ways to prevent dog bites.
The increase in the number of dog bites has compelled to observe national dog bite prevention week every year. Generally, children below the age of 12 and elders and postal service people are victims of dog bite and ten to twenty people die due to dog bites every year.
There are many reasons for a dog bite. It may be out of fear or to show their dominance over a person. Territory can also be another reason. Though the breed of the dog is responsible to some extent, it cannot be generalized that a particular breed of dog will bite. There is some dog owners who mistakenly teach that biting is a way of play. But there are certain ways through which it is possible to prevent dog bites.
Dogs that are spayed or neutered tend to have less affinity towards biting. Dog is a social animal and needs a lot of attention from its master. Hence, if sufficient time is allotted to spend with the dog and if they are taught to socialize well, they are less prone to bite. Dog should necessarily be well trained and whenever a trained dog attempts to bite, it should be stopped with a firm “no”. They should always be under leash and supervised.
When a person is bit by a dog, the first aid to be taken immediately is, to wash the wound with a warm water and soap thoroughly, since the dog’s mouth contains many bacteria and has the risk of infecting the injured part. The doctor has to be consulted and it is important not to panic. If there is bleeding due to dog bite, it must be stopped immediately and it is better to keep the injured part elevated to control bleeding.
The wound should be dressed with a non adhesive, gauze cloth. Infection can develop even after 48 hours of dog bite and so, careful monitoring is necessary. If any part is literally torn off during the attack, it should be wrapped in a clean tissue paper, stored in a plastic bag in ice and taken to the hospital.
The doctor’s advise should be strictly followed for continued treatment including taking antibiotics and dressing the wound daily. These simple steps would reduce further complications. Depending upon the severity, dog bites can be anything from serious and permanent scars to nerve damage. When a person is bit by a dog, he or she may experience trauma, pain and wage loss due to inability to attend work.
Whatever be the severity of the bite, consultation with the doctor is utterly necessary because there is the risk of rabies. In very rare cases, dog bite is fatal but nevertheless, dog bite can be treated but it is better to prevent dog bites rather than looking for treatment.
