Bite Wounds

What is it?

A dog's jaws can crush or tear skin and muscle, puncture the chest, or injure internal organs, and even a bite that does not break the skin can bruise the tissue underneath. Bites most often land on the neck, head, and legs, where they can damage blood vessels, nerves, the windpipe, the eyes, or joints. Because the mouth is full of bacteria, every bite that breaks the skin is considered contaminated and can lead to an abscess or spreading tissue infection.

What signs should I watch for?

Small punctures can close quickly and be hidden by fur, so wounds may look minor. Look for punctures, tears, swelling, pain, or limping. Signs that need emergency care include bleeding you cannot control, trouble breathing, weakness, crying or whining, limping, pale or blue gums, and collapse.

How is it diagnosed and treated?

Call your veterinarian right away after any fight; wounds treated within about six hours have the best chance of healing without complications. Your vet will provide pain relief or sedation, clip and flush the wounds, remove damaged tissue, and may leave punctures open to drain or close larger wounds, sometimes with drains. Antibiotics and pain medication are common, and a culture may be done if infection does not respond. At home, keep the area clean as directed, use a cone if needed, never use hydrogen peroxide unless your vet tells you to, and consider a muzzle when cleaning wounds, since a dog in pain may bite.

Can it be prevented, and what's the outlook?

• Keep your dog leashed and from roaming, start training and socialization early, avoid approaching stray dogs, and keep rabies vaccination current.
• Most wounds heal well with prompt care, but infection or deep injuries can cause serious complications if treatment is delayed.