what do i do?

Question

i just separated a dog fight and got a chunk pulled from my hand in places. it is not big or anything, maybe a quarter inch deep and like a centimeter wide. do in need to do anything beside clean it out and bandage it? i already did that, btw.

it's not bleeding, just flesh torn open and sticking out

also what do we do with the dogs... this is fifth fight in a month. they have no problem with other dogs, just each other.

Answer 1

o i have been down that road many a times breaking up dog fights between my two old dogs who were father and son. the dad truely hated his own son. one night when i was out seperating them the mother accidently clamped on my hand she was only trying to help me get dad off the son. once she relized, she let go and ran away. it was only a sec but it hurt like hell. i dont know what kind of dog bit you but if it was a large dog you are gonna be in pain from the pressure of the bite. maybe not now but tomorrow. the wound should be ok as long as you know the dog is up to date on its shots. as long as you are not bleeding like crazy and able to move your fingers you should be fine. if the dogs continue you may have to find a new home for one. our animal control was goin to investigate our dogs so we let one go live with a relative. good luck and more then likely the fights will only get worse.

Answer 2

It doesn't sound bad and most drs don't like to stitch up small bites- they have to be gashers. Clean it out really well and put some neosporin on it- leave the bandage off- the wound needs air not trapped under a moist band-aid.
Please make sure those dogs are utd on rabies vaccine!

Answer 3

I feel your pain. I've done the exact same thing and learned the exact same lesson!

As long as it's not bleeding, you are treating it correctly. Keep it clean and change the bandage everyday. Bite wounds get infected very easily, so your doc probably wouldn't sew it back up anyway. They like to leave them open to drain.

Take a look at the wound everyday to check for infection - red and swelling, and creamy discharge (purilent). If you think it's getting infected, go to your doc.

I'm really sorry - the worst part about being used as a chew toy is realizing you've been bitten by your own dang dog! And that hurts worst of all!

Edit: is one of your dogs starting the fights? I had an 2 year old aussie (adopted her 6 months before, took her to obedience class for 4 months) who just had a screw loose and kept jumping my 12 year old border collie. Their last fight (it was the bc that shredded me, trying to defend herself) was so vicious and totally unprovoked that I euthanized both of them. The aussie for the vicious attack and the bc because of her injuries.

Answer 4

You should go to the ER. Animal bites need to be reported to the Health Department. Hopefully the animal that bit you is current on its rabies vac ... do you know for sure that it is?

You may also need a course of antibiotics and possibly a tetanus shot. Meantime, keep it clean. But please see a doctor as soon as you can.

Answer 5

Unless you know for a fact that the dogs have had their rabies shots, you should go to the ER ASAP.

If you know they've had their shots, it is your call. If you wait more than a few hours, there is no use going, the ER won't sew it up anyway.

Doc

Answer 6

um, first of all, do you know the dog, (dogs), that nipped you? if so, you need to know if they have had their shots, (rabies). if they havent had their shots, they need to be confined, quarantined and watched. you may need rabie shots. better safe than sorry though. rabies is always fatal.

if the dogs in question have had their shots, (for sure no doubt positive), just use peroxide and anti bacterial stuff and a band aide.

Answer 7

Don't know, can't see it.. You should be able to decide yourself if you need stitches or need to see a doctor. Were they your dogs? Were the dogs vaccinated against rabies?

Answer 8

Just in case, go to a doctor. Better to be safe than sorry.

Answer 9

peroxide and neosporin