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May 24, 2023 - Dog Bite Law

Preventing Infections from Dog Bites: Tips for Avoiding Health Complications

If you suffer a bite from someone else’s dog, one of the most serious health consequences is the threat of infection. When a dog attacks, they mash and tear the flesh, leaving it especially prone to infection, and the bacteria harbored in a dog’s mouth can be the direct cause of a serious infection. 

If you are worried about infections from dog bites after being bitten by someone else’s dog, it is crucial to promptly seek medical care to safeguard your health and future well-being. Following this, obtaining expert legal advice from an experienced New Jersey dog bite lawyer is a vital step to take.

Staying Safe around Dogs: Strategies for Preventing Infections from Bites

The first method for protecting yourself from infections caused by dog bites is taking every precaution to avoid aggressive dogs in the first place. Caution can only go so far, however, as dogs can still bite the most careful people. 

If a dog’s already bitten you, it’s time to take precautionary measures that are focused on preventing infections. 

The Mayo Clinic advises anyone who’s suffered a dog bite that does no damage beyond breaking the skin to carefully wash the bite with soap and warm water, apply an antibiotic treatment, and cover the wound with a clean bandage. At this point, It’s important to watch the wound for any signs of worsening or infection.

 

Prompt Medical Attention  

The Mayo Clinic further reports that if any of the following apply to your dog bite wound, you should not wait to seek medical attention:

  • You’re not sure how serious the bite is.
  • The dog bite wound leaves a deep puncture. 
  • Your skin is torn badly or is bleeding a significant amount. If it is bleeding, take immediate action by using a clean cloth or bandage to apply the pressure necessary to stop or curb the bleeding prior to obtaining medical care.
  • You realize that the swelling, pain, oozing, or redness in the affected area is increasing. Each of these is a clear warning sign of infection. 
  • You have no way of knowing whether or not the dog is vaccinated for rabies.

Tetanus Shot  

Another matter you should concern yourself with after a dog bite is how recent your last tetanus booster was. If it’s been about 10 years since your booster or the dog bite wound is either dirty or deep, it may be time for a booster, which you should discuss with a medical professional. 

 

Bite Prevention 101: How to Reduce Your Risk of Infection from Dog Attacks

When it comes to dog bites, an ounce of prevention really is worth a pound of cure, and there are some important steps you can take to protect yourself and your children. 

The Statistics  

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) reports that dog bites pose a very real health threat to our communities. Consider the following statistics shared:

 

  • Every year in this country, more than 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs.
  • Of these, more than 800,000 people require medical attention. 
  • At least half of all those bitten by dogs are children, and children are far more likely to be seriously injured.  
  • About 1 in 5 of those who suffer dog bites require medical intervention. 

Bite Prevention Tips  

There are a range of basic tips that can help you protect yourself and your children from serious dog bite injuries. 

Know Why Dogs Bite

Many people mistakenly believe that a dog who is friendly when they first meet will always be friendly, but this simply isn’t the case. Any of the following can make a dog more likely to bite:

  • The dog is feeling stressed by the situation.
  • The dog is defending its territory or itself.
  • The dog’s been startled, is scared, or feels threatened.
  • The dog is attempting to protect something important to them, such as their puppies, a toy, a bone, or their food. 
  • The dog isn’t feeling well because it is injured, sick, or sore and wants to be left alone.

Sometimes harmless play with a dog can turn into a bite, which is a form of play on the part of the dog but can harm the person who is bitten in the process. 

Educate Yourself and Your Children  

Some safety pointers related to being around dogs that you and your children should know and follow include:

  • Always treat dogs with respect and never force yourself on them. 
  • Never run up to a dog – even if it’s leashed and with its owner. Instead, always approach dogs in a calm, controlled manner. 
  • If you want to pet a dog that isn’t your own, you need permission from its owner, and it should be leashed at the time you pet it. 
  • Never approach a dog that you don’t know, and if you come across one that is not well supervised, consider leaving the area and alerting animal control. 
  • If you’re confronted by an aggressive dog, backing away slowly and in a controlled manner – without making eye contact – is the way to go. 
  • Never tease a dog. 
  • Leave sleeping dogs and dogs that are eating alone. 
  • Recognize the signs of a dog’s aggression, including baring their teeth, wrinkling their muzzle, growling, tensing their lips and facial muscles, freezing up and holding their breath, holding a hard and direct stare, or holding their tail up and in place.

Some dogs give plenty of warning before they attack, and others give very little. This is why knowing the tell-tale signs of aggression is important and why proceeding with caution is advised. The best course of action is taking whatever precautions you deem necessary whenever a dog makes you feel uncomfortable, and erring on the side of caution is always in your best interest.  

Don’t Let a Bite Turn into a Nightmare: Tips for Minimizing the Health Risks of Dog Bites

When it comes to protecting yourself from dog bites and minimizing the associated health risks, all the following are essential:

  • Know the warning signs of aggression and take them seriously.
  • Proceed with caution whenever you’re around a dog you don’t know or don’t know well. 
  • Remember that any dog can become aggressive in the right situation and avoid these situations.
  • If you recognize a dangerous situation involving a dog, do what you can to avoid it and alert animal control.
  • Always employ hypervigilance whenever your children are near dogs that they’re not familiar with.

The best way to avoid a bite becoming a nightmare is naturally by avoiding the attack in the first place, but if you’ve already been bitten, taking immediate action can make a significant difference in your health outcome. 

The Basics of Avoiding Infections from Dog Bites: Essential Precautions for Staying Healthy

The basics when it comes to avoiding infections from dog bites break down into three primary elements. 

Exercise Healthy Caution

The first order of business is avoiding risky situations from the start and remembering that dogs are unpredictable, which means a dog who has been friendly in the past may not be as friendly the next time you meet. Your first and best line of defense is exercising healthy caution when it comes to dogs in general. 

Clean the Wound and Stop the Bleeding

If someone else’s dog does bite you, it’s important to figure out how serious the wound is. If the only damage is a small area where the animal broke your skin, you should cleanse the wound with soap and water, apply a topical antibiotic cream that you cover with a bandage, and watch for any signs of worsening. 

If the wound is more serious, heading directly to urgent care, the ER, or your primary provider is the best course of action. If the wound is bleeding heavily, staunching the flow with a clean towel or cloth before seeking medical attention is advised. 

Obtain the Medical Attention that You Need

If your wound is more serious than broken skin, the best way to avoid serious infection is by obtaining immediate medical attention. Your attending medical professional will thoroughly clean the wound, assess the related damage, and devise the right care plan for you. Taking antibiotics as a precautionary measure to ward off serious infection may be advised. 

If your wounds are very serious, you could be looking at surgery and ongoing healthcare needs. Dogs often attack the hands, face, or calves, and these are especially vulnerable to injuries that require extensive care and lengthy recoveries. 

Discuss Your Claim with an Experienced New Jersey Dog Bite Lawyer Today

A dog bite can happen in an instant and turn your world upside down. Always seek the help you need – both medical and legal. 

David J. Cowhey is a dedicated dog bite attorney at The New Jersey Dog Bite Lawyer whose entire impressive practice focuses on helping dog bite victims like you obtain just compensation that supports their fullest recoveries. We are on your side and here to help, so please reach out to us through our online form or call us at (866) 259-4377 today.

  • Staying Safe around Dogs: Strategies for Preventing Infections from Bites
  • Bite Prevention 101: How to Reduce Your Risk of Infection from Dog Attacks
  • Don't Let a Bite Turn into a Nightmare: Tips for Minimizing the Health Risks of Dog Bites
  • The Basics of Avoiding Infections from Dog Bites: Essential Precautions for Staying Healthy
  • Discuss Your Claim with an Experienced New Jersey Dog Bite Lawyer Today

I’ve been bitten by a dog

Talk to The New Jersey Dog Bite Lawyer, New Jersey's most experienced and successful dog bite attorney.

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# (609) 513-0627

Dave was awesome helping me through the nightmare world of insurance claims after my daughter was attacked by a neighbors dog. Dave is very friendly, always available and extremally knowledgeable and connected to this process. I highly recommend you call him about your case,

John L.

David Cowhey, Esq. did a great job for my daughter, who had been bit by a dog and left with a scar on her leg. He is an extremely competent and responsive attorney. The whole process was very easy and he negotiated a great settlement! We are very happy. Highly recommend his professional services!!

J S

My experience with David Cowhey was amazing, he is a very knowledgeable and helpful lawyer. I got bit by a dog and it left a very noticeable scar on my leg and David was great to have on my side. He’s very easy to work with, would definitely recommend if you’re going through the same thing!

Michaela S.

Dave is so professional. My daughter was 6 when she was attacked by a friend of the family dog. I contacted Dave’s office and spoke with his secretary. She was so friendly and asked questions that made me feel comfortable. I was amazed by how fast the service was and everything was easy to understand. Dave made sure my daughter was compensated for her injuries and along with pain & suffering. There couldn’t be a more perfect choice but that’s because God helped me choose this great lawyer! He did an excellent job!!! She is 7 now and We are now able to move on better because of the help of Dave. Pick this lawyer!! I PROMISE YOU WONT REGRET ANYTHING AT ALL‼️ Thank you Dave!

Nieja M,

My entire experience with Dave and his team was 5 stars. They specialize in one thing, and this experience taught me why you want an attorney who specializes. Dave's knowledge, experience, and confidence is what made things go smoothly and quickly. Professional and quick responses always. If someone was bitten by a dog I recommend this guy, he will get you what you deserve.

Morgan K.

My wife got bit by a dog last spring; she immediately received medical care and we made a police report- all within 2 hours. Shortly thereafter, we decided to choose Attorney David to represent her. He walked us through the process. It is much more comfortable knowing that his practice only involves dog bites. He knows his stuff! We have just received notice that a fair settlement has been reached. If you have been bitten by a dog, my wife and I would highly recommend David Cowhey for an attorney. Thank you to David and his professional staff!

David D.

My 8 year old son was bitten by a neighborhood dog, leaving permanent scars on his abdomen. I immediately contacted David Cowhey. He explained the process very clearly and made it very easy for us to come to a fair settlement for my son. He was a perfect advocate for us, and he is very compassionate for the victim. We are very pleased with the hard work David has done for our son.

Stephanie D.

Lawyer Dave Cowhey (& his office) helped my wife, son and me immensely over the past 15 months. He is tremendously professional, responsive and proactive, as well as being, a great attorney. Thanks to Dave, we are now able to put our 'incident' behind us. I highly recommend his services - he will work hard and long for you to get you the settlement you deserve.

Seth K G

My experience with Dave and his law firm was wonderful. While I was nervous to start the process of something that I knew nothing about, he was extremely helpful and explained everything clearly and concisely. He answered all of my questions - day or night, weekday or weekend, and made sure I was comfortable at each step. I would highly recommend Dave and his firm!

Ariella L.

I absolutely loved my entire time of working with with Dave. He always kept my best interest in mind and made sure that I was taking care of. He was amazing at communicating all steps in the process with me, and never hesitated to answer any of my questions. Would highly recommend!

Amanda G.

Dave was extremely responsive and guided me thru the process with compassion. His specialization in dog bites really helped facilitate the process. He knows all the insurance issues and, despite the backlog of cases due to Covid, was able to settle my claim for more than we anticipated as well as earlier. I would definitely recommend Dave as I felt comfortable that I was getting the best advice every step of the way!

Kristen J.

Dave did extremely well by me and my family. He was nothing short of professional and assisted us through the entire process. I called him the day of the dog bite, and I followed his instructions to the "T". Him, and his staff, were knowledgeable on every step of the process. From medical advise, to advise on setting up our structured settlement for our child. If you need help right away, don't wait.... call him asap!!!

William W.

Dave was amazing, he handled my case with care , answered every question , email and helped me to understand the steps we needed to take. I had never dealt with a lawsuit before so of course I was nervous and thought I was going to get ripped off but nope. He was very professional and attentive. Hope I never need him again but should I ever need a lawyer for a dog bite i'm calling him first!

Neyia W.

Dave Cowhey was amazing during our case which was very personal in the sense that involved family members. He was candid and professional and always gave us his honest opinion to all our questions and concerns. He's a family man and understands how upsetting the situations are at hand. I wish he was a lawyer for everything honestly, he was fantastic! Highly recommended Dave and his team.

Courtney R.

My one year old dog and I were viciously attacked by a pit bull. I didn’t want to file a law suit initially until I realized the severity of the injuries both mentally and physically. Most lawyers are all about the money not for the justice and compassion of the victim. I am blessed to have found David. He was our hero who understood our situation was efficient knowledgeable and above all sincerely compassionate

Karol M.

Dave was hands on and always available. Steered me through the entire process and helped cover my medical costs and compensation for my scar and injury. Went over and Beyond and made me feel at ease and confident in a positive outcome. Would recommend to all.

COACH B

Honest, fast, responsive and professional. Great experience working with Mr. Cowhey and I highly recommend to handle any dog bite case.

Lilian P.

We contacted Dave when our 5 year old son was attacked by our neighbor's dog, resulting in deep wounds (and now scars) on his face and arm. Dave was extremely knowledgeable/helpful from the start, explaining how everything would work, and he was always available via phone/text if we had questions come up throughout the process. He always gave us all of the options/routes we could take and let us decide what was the best move for our family. He advocated for the best outcome for our son and always kept us in the loop. We were able to settle in a friendly hearing with the homeowner-insurance company, which was simple and straightforward, thanks to all of Dave's hard work behind-the-scenes. We definitely could not have navigated this process ourselves and we are very thankful for the help of Dave and his team!

Elisa H.

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