Dog Bite First Aid: Cleaning, Medical Evaluation & Rabies Risk

Immediate First Aid

1. Safety first: Secure dog; separate victim.
2. Control bleeding: Direct pressure with clean cloth.
3. Irrigate aggressively: Run tap water over wound 5–10 minutes. Use mild soap. This is the single most effective infection prevention step.
4. Do NOT: Apply ice directly (causes frostbite), use hydrogen peroxide/alcohol (tissue toxic), close wound with tape/glue, probe depth.
5. Cover loosely: Sterile non-adherent dressing.
6. Elevate if extremity.

Seek Medical Care Promptly (Within 8 Hours Ideally) For:

• Any puncture wound (high infection risk)
• Laceration >1 cm or on face/hand/foot/joint/genitals
• Crush injury, deep tear, tissue loss
• Victim <5 yrs, >65 yrs, immunocompromised, diabetic, asplenic, on immunosuppressants
• Unknown vaccination status of dog
• Dog acting strangely, unprovoked attack

Medical Management

• Irrigation/debridement in clinic/ER.
• Primary closure? Usually NO for punctures/high-risk (face excepted). Delayed primary or secondary intention.
• Antibiotics: Amoxicillin-clavulanate 3–5 days (prophylactic for moderate/severe; therapeutic if infected). Alternatives for penicillin allergy.
• Tetanus: Update if >5 yrs (dirty wound) or >10 yrs.
• Rabies PEP: If dog unvaccinated, unknown, high-risk species (bat, raccoon, skunk, fox), or dog unavailable for 10-day observation. HRIG + 4-dose vaccine series.

Ice/Cold Therapy – Correct Use

Cold pack wrapped in towel → 15 min on/off for pain/swelling. Never direct ice on wound.

Reporting

Most jurisdictions require bite reporting to animal control/health department for quarantine/observation of dog.

Bottom Line

Irrigate copiously, seek care early, antibiotics often indicated, rabies risk assessed by authorities. Do not close puncture wounds primarily.