A dog attack can have serious consequences for any resident of North Carolina. It’s important to know what to do if you have been a victim of one.
The severity of dog attacks
In the summer of 2021, a man was bitten by his deceased brother-in-law’s dog, contracting a sepsis infection. He later needed both legs amputated. His brother-in-law had previously died from an infection from a dog scratch.
The bite victim suffered the dog attack on the day of his brother-in-law’s funeral.
The dog had been purchased via Facebook two months prior. The bite victim was unaware that his brother-in-law died as a result of the dog. He became ill with a fever and swollen, discolored legs after the attack. The dog was later euthanized.
What should you do after a dog attack?
Dog attacks are often unexpected and unprovoked. If you are bitten or attacked by a dog, it’s important to take immediate action and seek medical attention. Don’t wait; get treated right away. Clean the wound immediately after a bite or scratch using soap and warm water. If you’re bleeding, pat the wound with a dry, clean cloth or towel.
If you have antiseptic ointment or cream, apply it to your wound and then wrap the wound in a clean bandage.
See your doctor immediately after or go to the emergency room to have it checked. The doctor will advise you on additional steps you might have to take after they’ve examined you. However, you should change the bandage a few times per day and check the wound for any unusual changes. If you have additional swelling, redness, pain or fever, you should again seek medical attention.
In some cases, you might need to get a rabies vaccine. If the dog is a stranger to you and you don’t know its history, this might be necessary.
