Dog bite

TheresaW

TheresaW

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Aled bit me last night. Was my own fault, he'd stolen something, and taken it into a corner. We've been using distraction techniques, and they've been working, but I thought I could grab it off him in time. I have 2 puncture wounds on my hand. Have thoroughly cleaned them, and covered them overnight. They did bleed over night, but have stopped this morning. Hand is swollen but not red or overly hot. I think I know what the answer is, but will ask anyway. Should I go to A&E? Can't find a local walk in centre.

Am also worried he will get in trouble. Do dog bites have to be reported if they are treated?
 
No dog bites do not have to be reported, personally I would bathe well with antiseptic and not bother with A&E as they really won't be able to do anything other than bathe with antiseptic :)
 
Ok, thank you. Have cleaned them again this morning and left them uncovered for now. Will stick a couple of plasters on before I go to the horses to keep them covered. Will just keep an eye on them for infection.
 
I would always go to to A&E for a dog bite. If I can't use my hand, I can't work and I can't earn. So err on the side of caution.
Mine has usually been bad timing over a ball and me not moving quickly enough, rather than a dog deliberately savaging me so they never tend to ask questions.
 
That's exactly what I would do - my mum has had some horrible dog bites as she grooms/clips dogs, the worst was from a springer spaniel that caught her unawares and the bite went through the palm of her hand! My greyhounds have bitten me on a few occasions by mistake - generally when I am misguided enough to feed them treats! - and although it has been sore it has never been a problem for me
 
CorvusCorax said:
I would always go to to A&E for a dog bite. If I can't use my hand, I can't work and I can't earn. So err on the side of caution.
Mine has usually been bad timing over a ball and me not moving quickly enough, rather than a dog deliberately savaging me so they never tend to ask questions.
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LOL I knew everyone else would say A&E..... I just could not be bothered with a 4 hour wait for something so minor
 
I am worried about infection, which is why I asked. Am struggling to use the hand where it's so swollen.

He's not an aggressive dog at all, but does have guarding issues which we are aware of, and are doing our best to keep temptation out of his way. Trouble is, we just don't know what he will take. Could understand food, but it's been the tv remote, a pair of glasses, and last night, a packet of cigarettes. If you give him a bone or a treat, he will happily munch it on the floor or wherever he flops, and he would quite happily let you take it off him. (We don't, but did try to see how he'd react).
 
The triage nurse has always seen me quickly, even on a Saturday night (that definitely ballsed up my evening :p)


Sounds like Pica/a compulsive and comforting thing.
Just put everything grabbable out of his reach if you can and restrict his movement in the house.
 
TheresaW said:
I am worried about infection, which is why I asked. Am struggling to use the hand where it's so swollen.

He's not an aggressive dog at all, but does have guarding issues which we are aware of, and are doing our best to keep temptation out of his way. Trouble is, we just don't know what he will take. Could understand food, but it's been the tv remote, a pair of glasses, and last night, a packet of cigarettes. If you give him a bone or a treat, he will happily munch it on the floor or wherever he flops, and he would quite happily let you take it off him. (We don't, but did try to see how he'd react).
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Go to a&e if you are struggling to use it. Have to be carefull of tendon and nerve damage.
 
As has been said, if it is swollen I would get ABs. Bad boy! CC would know better than me but if he is grabbing random stuff would it be worth him being on a long line in the house so if he goes under the furniture to guard you could pull him out?
 
If it is swollen I would either speak to out of hours Dr or go to A&E. If it is not infected and doesn't feel hot or look red then you could possibly wait until the morning and go to the normal Dr. Is your tetanus up to date?

In terms of avoiding something like this happening again, I would echo CC's advice. Keep anything stealable out of his reach and restrict where he is or isn't allowed with babygates (if viable).
 
WorkingGSD has beaten me to it - is your tetanus up-to-date? Think I'd probably get it checked at walk-in centre or A&E in your shoes.
 
Went to local hospital which had walk in centre attached to A&E. Didn't know about my tetanus, but last one was in 1997, which apparently covers me for life now. Got a course of AB's, and if swelling hasn't gone down in 48hrs, or starts spreading up my arm, got to go back.

With regards to Aled in the house, will just do our best to keep on top of it. It's hard keeping stuff out of reach, as the things he takes have no rhyme or reason to them. Long line is an idea. It is totally my fault this happened. Usually we offer him a treat, and he will come straight out and we can get what he's taken and he forgets he even took it. He's such a lovely boy in every other way.
 
I know it's hard but think of it from the point of view that it's for his safety as well as yours, ie a choking risk. My dog was a demon for nicking stuff as a youngster and you'd be surprised how careful it can make you!

There's a ten year teatnus shot that my GP recommends as I work with dogs a lot (and ferrets in a previous life). The last time I went in they told me I already had it from the previous time I was a klutz, in 2011 :p


You can try a light hand line (no hand loop) on a harness or flat collar so you don't always have to get too close to the pointy end.

Do you do the adding food to his bowl thing etc?
 
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You just add food to his bowl incrementally and when he is eating, if it is safe. Just so you are giving him stuff and not taking it away all the time, as he may see it. Just another area to work on. If he's interested in balls or toys you can also try swapping two of the same item over and over...if he lets go of one he immediately gets the other.
Two of the same in case he would have a preference for a certain consistency or shape of toy and not be bothered exchanging it.
Just another little thing where you can get in his head a bit, that giving something up isn't a terrible thing.
 
Thank you. We do add food to his bowl, and any scraps he has after our dinner are always put in his bowl for him. He shows no food aggression at all.

Great idea with the toys. Will give it a go.
 
Depending on how reactive the dog is it is safer to start by just putting a handle of his dinner in a bowl and putting it down for him to eat, as he finishes the first bowl put down a second ( from a distance to start with), then put another bowl down then add some to the first bill. Gradually reduce how far apart the bowls are and start outside with plenty of space and and place them in a triangle. Also at th e start always walk away from him to place the next bowl. Good luck.
You can do the same thing with toys or items he guards, be careful not to reward him for taking stuff by giving treats.
 
He's fine with his food. We tried him out when he first came, as we have cats too, and were worried about them if they went near him. (They are fed separately generally as he eats much faster). He had to have his flea and wormer the other night. OH forgot to put it in his dinner, so I just picked his bowl up and mixed it in. He just looked at me.

It really is just things he takes, like he knows he shouldn't have them.
 
Trainer friend of mine advised me to remove all toys from the house and only let them play on walks if they were possessive with them. Luckily, my lot don't get possessive, but I see the logic of this.
 
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