Our furry friends bite an estimated 4.5 million Americans each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, sending almost 1,000 people to emergency rooms every day. Although that means bites are relatively common, the risk of contracting rabies is much lower than most people think (in the United States, anyway, where dogs are immunized for it; in other countries, the risk is higher).
The majority of dog bites are minor and donât require stitches, but make sure to wash the bite area thoroughly withsoap and lots of water. (Donât clean a bite with hydrogen peroxide, as that can damage healthy tissue.) If a bite is a puncture wound, the infection could be deeper than you can see, so itâs a good idea to make an appointment with your doctor even if the wound doesnât look serious.
âThe concern with any bite is infection,â says Jon Prince, M.D., a board-certified emergency medicine practitioner at Providence Tarzana Medical Center in Tarzana, California âBecause the victim comes in contact with the dogâs saliva, itâs considered a âdirtyâ wound,â so doctors very often prescribe antibiotics (usually Augmentin) if youâve been bitten.
Many people are afraid that a strange dog might bite themâbut youâre actually more likely to be bitten by your own dog (or a friendâs pooch). Startling a sleeping dog or messing with her puppies or food could make even a gentle dog turn aggressive. To cut your risk, avoid making direct eye contact with dogs you donât know, and keep your own dogs under tight control when introducing them to new people (particularly children). Donât encourage aggressive behavior by playing tug-of-war with your dogs, and make sure to get them spayed or neutered, which dramatically reduces the likelihood that theyâll bite.
