Determine the type of Dog Bite Wound:

There are two types of wound cause by a dog bite. A puncture wound will break the skin, but not tear it. These are the injury most liable to infection, as the open wound is a perfect breeding ground for bacteria. Puncture wounds can trigger swelling of the area, which can effectively seal the wound, making cleaning difficult, and bacteria thrive. For this reason any puncture wound must immediately be treated, before it can start to swell.


A laceration, where the teeth of the dog rip the skin apart is more serious in terms of medical care; often needing stitches and leaving a scar. Anything other than the tinyist laceration should be seen by a medic.

· How to Safely Treat a Dog Bite Dog Bite at Home
· Wash and clean the wound immediately. If a child is injured, clean their wounds before calming them down. This one action reduces the risk of infection by nearly 50%
· Wash the wound with a clean cloth in warm, soapy water, with anti bacterial soap.
· Rinse the wound with warm running water for a full 5 minutes.
· Use a piece of kitchen towel, or a gauze pad to dry the wound. Towels can leave fluff behind in the wound, and usually carry large amounts of bacteria
· Apply an antiseptic cream or solution to keep the wound clean.
· Cover the wound with a sterile bandage or plaster.
· If swelling becomes a problem, apply an ice pack to the wound.