Getting bitten by a dog can be frightening, painful and often expensive. You may need emergency medical treatment, depending on the severity of the bite.
For most people, after they receive treatment, the bite begins to heal. It could still lead to long-term issues like disfigurement, depending on the location and how serious your injuries are, but those injuries should be getting better.
However, there are also cases where the dog bite becomes infected, and these can be very dangerous. An infection could lead to extensive medical treatment that goes beyond just addressing the initial wound. Some infections can even be so serious that they turn fatal, such as when they lead to sepsis, so it is very important to work with your medical team.
5 signs to watch for
To determine if your bite has gotten infected, keep a close eye on the symptoms. The following are potential signs that an infection has set in:
- The area around the bite becomes tender and warm to the touch
- There is drainage of pus or other fluid from the wound
- Your pain gets worse with time, rather than better
- If the bite was near a joint, such as a knee or an elbow, it may become stiff and hard to move
- You could develop symptoms commonly associated with illness, like shaking, sweating, or running a temperature as your body tries to fight the infection
Not only do you need to know what steps to take to receive appropriate medical attention, but it is also important to be aware of your rights to seek financial compensation from the dog’s owner.