Dog Bite Treatment

Dog bites can be traumatic and painful experiences that can leave both physical and emotional scars. However, as long as adequate, timely and appropriate treatment is given in the majority of cases the prognosis is excellent. Although there aren't any exact figures about 60-90% of bites are caused by Dogs and between one third and a half of bites occur in children. In 70% of these cases the victims are bitten by their own Dog or a dog they are familiar with. According to one report, in the UK, you are more likely to be killed by a lightening strike than you are from a dog attack!

First Aid for bites:

Before you begin to treat the victim make sure that the situation is safe for you and the victim. Make sure that the dog is not around by either taking the victim away or getting the owner of the dog to remove the dog and either chain it up or shut it up away from you. You should try to find out the name and address of the owner, the breed and immunization status of the dog if possible as this may be useful if further treatment or action is required.

Try to stop the bleeding but only use tourniquets as a last resort for severe bleeding that can't be controlled in any other way. If possible keep the injured part elevated above the heart to control the bleeding.

The mouth carries many bacteria which can cause infection in a wound so it is vital to clean the wound thoroughly with boiled, cooled water for 5-10 minutes. Running water is preferable otherwise soak the area in water that is frequently changed (you should wear gloves while you do this to protect yourself).

Don't apply antibacterial lotions on an animal bite as some bacteria in saliva can actually proliferate, or reproduce quickly in a short interval, in certain creams. Some may also damage the skin tissue and healing.

Apply direct pressure to the wound with a clean cloth. Dress the wound with a non-adhesive, sterile gauze and bandage. Watch for signs of infection, if they develop up to 48 hours after the bite you should see your doctor. Bites, by definition, break the skin which allows bacteria from the saliva in the animal's mouth to seep into the open wound and can result in infection. Antibiotic prophylaxis is normally given. Prophylaxis is a Greek word meaning an advance guard; in medical terms it means a measure is taken to maintain health and prevent the spread of a disease or condition.

If any parts are actually torn off during an attack (such as an ear) then you should wrap the part in clean tissue paper, store it in a plastic bag surrounded by ice and take it with you to the hospital.

Signs and symptoms of infection:

• Pain around the wound


• Redness


• Tenderness


• Swelling


• Pus or discharge


• Fever


• Swollen glands

First Aid for infections:

The wound should be covered with a sterile bandage leaving the area surrounding it visible so that you can monitor signs of spreading. Try to keep the wound elevated and supported. See your doctor as soon as possible to prevent further complications.

The risk of infection is particularly high in punctures, hand injuries, full thickness wounds, those needing surgical debridement, and wounds involving joints, tendons, ligament and fractures. Also infections are more likely if the wound is deep or dirty, or if there is a lot of blood under the wound.

Certain factors make some people more vulnerable to infection:

• Diabetes mellitus. (Increases the risk of Pasteurella infection)


• Alcoholics. (Increases the risk of Pasteurella infection)


• Cirrhosis or liver scarring.


• People on steroid therapy. (Increases the risk of Pasteurella infection)


• Rheumatoid arthritis. (Increases the risk of Pasteurella infection)


• Lymphoedema after radiotherapy. (Increases the risk of Pasteurella infection)


• Asplenia which is the absence of normal spleen function.


• Wounds more than six hours old.


• Devitalised tissue.


• Previously sutured wounds.


• Full thickness wounds involving tendons, joints or ligaments.


• Bites on limbs especially the hands.


• Those with compromised immune systems due to drugs or illness.

Pasteurella is a bacteria found in most animals. If a wound is infected by these bacteria then the wound becomes red and inflamed, this occurs rapidly: within 24 hours and there is significant pain and swelling. Occasionally it can cause pneumonia or other respiratory infections; very rarely it causes kidney infections or meningitis. If it is treated promptly with antibiotics then the prognosis is good. However if any infection is left untreated then it may spread to the bloodstream causing blood poisoning, or cause swelling, stiffening of the joints and tissue damage.

Complications:

Scarring. In children, dog bites frequently involve the face, potentially resulting in severe lacerations (cuts) and scarring.

Infections:

• Such as tetanus, rabies, septicaemia, septic arthritis, tendonitis, peritonitis, meningitis and osteomyelitis which is infection of the bone.


• Wound infection occurs in 2-30% of dog bites.


• Infections from bites are polymicrobial, (more than one species involved) often including anaerobes which can survive without oxygen. Common bacteria include Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Eikenella, Pasteurella, Proteus, Klebsiella, Haemophilus, Entrobacter, Capnocytophaga, Canimorsus and Bacteroides.

Fractures.

Disfigurement.

If you sustained the bite abroad then you may be at risk of rabies. At the moment the UK is largely free from rabies (although some bats carry the disease in the UK), but it is common in Africa, Asia, Central and South America and some cases have been reported in Eastern Europe. Rabies is a serious illness that can be fatal to humans so if you are bitten or scratched abroad you should seek immediate medical attention even if you don't think you have contracted anything-rabies is virtually undetectable in the early stages. You should contact the Health Protection Agency Centre for Infection or Health Protection Scotland. Staff will need to know:

• Your previous vaccination status


• The country where you were bitten


• The site and date of the bite


• Whether the attack was provoked or not


• Whether it was a domestic or feral dog


• The current health of the animal if this is known.

The treatment to prevent rabies developing is called post-exposure prophylaxis and it involves 1 dose of rabies immunoglobulin (this is a blood product which contains antibodies against rabies) and 5 doses of rabies vaccine. If prophylaxis is required, it is usually obtainable from these centres as is the rabies vaccine (which is injected into the muscle) and the human rabies immunoglobulin.

Hospital Treatment:

About one in five people who are bitten by a dog seek medical attention, of those only 1% require hospital admission.

Some bites can be particularly serious and require more attention than just first aid. Also injuries can be more extensive than they appear especially puncture wounds as these are small but deep and can damage tendons or joints. Wounds can be quite complex as bites can involve sheering forces: the dog embeds its teeth into your skin, you react by pulling away and the skin tears. You should see your doctor if:

the bite is on:

• the hand,


• the foot,


• a joint,


• a tendon,


• a ligament


• the scalp,


• the face,


• the ears,


• the nose,

• You require antibiotics; you will also usually need admitting to hospital.


• You think an infection has developed or is likely to develop.


• You have bleeding that doesn't stop after 15 minutes of direct pressure


• You think you have a broken bone or nerve damage


• You are not up date with your tetanus vaccine


• You were bitten by a dog with unknown immunisation status

When you see a doctor they may ask for the following information:

- Breed of dog. This is particularly important as a bite from a larger dog is more likely to damage deeper structures such as tendons or bone.
-Health status of the animal
- Time and location of the event
- Circumstances (i.e. a provoked or unprovoked attack.)
- Location of the animal now
- Any pre-hospital treatment
- Any factors which are likely to compromise immunity such as HIV or steroid therapy
- Any recent antibiotics (if infection is present in a patient taking antibiotics then this may suggest the infection is caused by a resistant organism)

Your wound should be washed with a normal saline or drinking water to remove the dirt and bacteria. If the wound is contaminated then a 1% providone solution is used as it is better than saline. The providone is diluted so it is germicidal but not toxic to the tissues. If you have not been immunised against tetanus within the last 5-8years then a booster shot is usually administered. However contracting tetanus from a dog bite is rare.

Sometimes debridement is required which involves medically removing dead, damaged or infected tissue, either by surgical, mechanical, chemical or autolytic (self-digestion) means. Dead or damaged skin needs to be removed because it is an ideal place for infection to develop. Also debridement helps to remove any blood clots or foreign bodies that might be lodged in the wound. Cleaning the wound and debridement is more important than medication in many cases.

Once the wound has been properly cleaned then primary suturing (stitches) may be performed. This is particularly good for facial wounds as there is an excellent blood supply to speed up healing. Gaping wounds may need to be stitched, glued or held together with steri strips. Suturing can help to prevent scarring and improve the cosmetic outcome. However some wounds may be left open for a few days to ensure that they aren't infected before they are closed up. Delayed closure for 3-5 days is usually done in cases where the bite is on the hand, those with extensive crush injuries, wounds that need considerable debridement and wounds that are more than six hours old. During this time they should be covered with a sterile, non-adhesive dressing to prevent any more bacteria entering the wound and causing infection.

Antibiotics may be prescribed to prevent infection and should provide protection against Pasteurella bacteria, anaerobes and staphylococci. At first this may be given intravenously through a drip into a vein. Antibiotics are useful for:

• All wounds after primary closure


• Puncture wounds


• Large wounds


• Bites to the hand and wrist. Antibiotic prophylaxis significantly reduces the risk of infection in bites on the hand, but they may not be as effective for bites elsewhere.


• Bites on the face


• Crush wounds with devitalised tissue


• Wounds that required surgical debridement


• Wounds involving joints, tendons, ligaments or fractures


• Dog bite injuries to genitals


• High risk patients such as those with diabetes, those with compromised immune systems, splenectomy, those on chemotherapy, splenectomy, artificial heart valves, rheumatoid arthritis and those with prosthetic joints.

In mild infections co-amoxiclav is usually prescribed as a first line of treatment. However, antibiotics are not usually needed for bites that are 2 days old and aren't showing signs of infection: infection has normally developed by this time if bacteria are present.

About this Author

Have you suffered injury as a result of an accident or somebody else's wrong doing? If so, and it wasn't your fault we can help you make a compensation claim for your physical, psychological and financial losses.

At Macks we understand the importance of a good lawyer / client relationship. We pride ourselves on looking after our clients, communicating effectively and listening to people's needs.

To receive advice and help for your situation call Free phone 0800 652 4321 or 01642 252828.

Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Fox_Harrison

Dog Cancer Treatment - Getting Reliable Information

There is an overwhelming amount of information regarding cancer treatments, online and elsewhere. However, you will find little guidance on how to assess or integrate all this material, much of which is of questionable origin. You could devote hundreds of hours to research and still have no clear idea about how best to proceed.

If your Dog has cancer, you will have to make some crucial decisions over the next few days or weeks. You can't afford to lose precious time on a Google marathon that may lead you up scores of blind alleys. Your need is for a dependable strategy right now. Solid information is both hard to find and bewildering when found.

If you have already done some research on alternative approaches to canine cancer, you may have come across the following arguments supporting recommended treatments:

"Based on scientific research." Scientific research can give us information that is valuable; however, again, it does not address the individual differences of different Dogs. There is very little scientific research on non-conventional treatments for Dogs with cancer. In addition, as you will see in the following pages, many studies are seriously flawed, and can be manipulated to produce false results.

"Confirmed by impressive testimonials." Making treatment choices based on testimonials is hazardous. Even a treatment with a measly 5% success rate may draw some enthusiastic testimonials. You would never know from reading them that the treatment failed in 95% of the cases! Further, because of the individuality of every Dog, the successes of one group of owners are not necessarily relevant to another owner. There is no universal magic bullet. Treatment must be individualized.

"It worked for a friend." The same objection about individuality applies here, but with even greater force. What can be learned from a sample of one?

Let's take a closer look at the scientific research that has been done on cancer in dogs.

A search of veterinary journals listed in the National Library of Medicine yields very little information about the causes of canine cancer, though there are many articles about conventional treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation.

One of the few studies that addresses causes is "Prevalence of obese dogs in a population of dogs with cancer," in the American Journal of Veterinary Research. It shows that dogs that had a history of corticosteroid use (corticosteroid drugs include prednisone, hydrocortisone, and triamcinolone) had higher rates of cancer, and those dogs were fatter from the steroid use. When the corticosteroid dogs were separated out, the remaining dogs with cancer had a lower incidence of excess weight.

Other findings were that the prevalence of cancer was higher in neutered dogs, both male and female, and that certain breeds were more at risk than others.

Surprisingly, the study found that higher body fat may be protective against certain types of cancer. (Mast cell tumors were an exception to this pattern.)

What does all this tell us? First, it tells us that we should shun corticosteroids for our dogs at all costs; there are more natural alternatives. It also tells us that neutering increases the risk of cancer. Neither this study nor other studies, however, shed light on how obesity is related, or not, to cancer in dogs.

Scientific research is not always the gold standard of reliability. Perhaps you remember that studies of the anti-inflammatory drug Vioxx were manipulated to show that it was safe and effective. The researchers wanted to suppress the fact that the drug caused heart attacks in some subjects. Their solution was simple: anyone who died wasn't counted! There are many, many studies that are just as deceptive.

You might seek guidance from "common knowledge" and clinical evidence. It's common knowledge, for example, that if a dog drinks antifreeze it will die. There is no scientific study on that, nor would it be humane to conduct one. Rather, the fact is established from clinical observation.

Of course, you could turn to your veterinarian. Most veterinarians are caring professionals who do the best they can with the resources available to them. But it's hardly reassuring that there are no published protocols or standards of care for canine cancer. In other words, each vet has to improvise his or her approach to a case. Your vet may suggest that you consult a veterinary oncologist, who will probably favor chemotherapy and/or radiation - expensive and, in my opinion, ineffective measures.

Some veterinarians describe themselves as "holistic." These practitioners will be supportive of non-toxic types of treatment. You can find such a vet by consulting a database maintained by the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association.

Perhaps the most reliable information comes from specific testing of the individual dog. When a blood test shows low sodium levels, for example, the condition can be treated with dietary salt. In Dog Cancer: The Holistic Answer, I describe a practical method of doing individual specific testing on your pet.

Dr. Steven Eisen is the author of "Dog Cancer: The Holistic Answer ". The book is a comprehensive guide to effective, holistic dog cancer treatment. More information can be found at http://DogCancerAdvice.com