The risk of infection from dog bites

One of the biggest threats from a dog bite is the potential for infection. This can lead to massive complications that make it far more dangerous than it would have been otherwise.

The issue is that most dog bites are puncture wounds. If there is bacteria on the skin or inside the dog’s mouth, the puncture pushes it deep below the skin. It can then become trapped there, even if the surface of the bite gets cleaned. The person may think that they’re recovering at first and then develop serious infection symptoms days later.

Potential signs of infection include:

• Swelling
• Redness
• Discharge
• Increased pain
• Warmth
• Trouble moving
• Fever
• Sweating at night
• Shaking

It’s important to consider how long the symptoms last. You expect some pain with a bite, no matter how minor it is. Usually, though, that pain begins to subside as healing sets in during the first day or two. If the wound instead feels more tender and painful the next day, or if you go for days with a pain level that never decreases, that could mean it has turned into an infection. You need to seek medical treatment — which is also recommended after the initial bite — so that you can treat this infection as quickly as possible.

When a bite gets infected, the costs can vastly increase as more medical care is needed. In some cases, the infection can even threaten your life. Make sure you are well aware of the legal rights you have to seek financial compensation after you suffer a dog bit injury.