Animal bites is one of the most common injuries experienced by both children and adults. Puncture wounds which is caused by strong teeth grasp has been a frequent issue regarding skin injuries. Any kinds of dogs have the potential in causing puncture wounds through their bites. Small dogs have more or less similar ability to injure the victim with large dogs do. Therefore, children are not advised to be alone with dogs without adults’ supervision. The most common body parts regarding dog bites are hands, legs, neck, upper arms, and buttocks. In few cases, dog bites may lead to rabies, if the bite comes from non-vaccinated dogs. In most cases, however, infection is more of a concern than disease transmission. Therefore, knowing how to treat the bites properly and the time to contact a doctor will minimize serious complications resulted by dog bites.

Dog bites puncture wound first aid

Immediate treatment is required for any wounds in order to promote proper healing process, including for puncture wounds caused by dog bites. Most puncture wounds caused by dog bites are minor and can be treated at home. This kind of wound is going to heal within days and does not usually cause any complications. However, few bites are more severe and thus, may cause some other problems, especially infection. Infection may also happen to minor wounds which are not properly treated, and it is potential to cause delay in wound healing. To prevent infection, dog bites have to be immediately treated by doing these things:

1. Clean the wound by washing it properly, as dog’s mouth is where various bacteria harbor. Use mild soap and running water to clean it. Remove any debris if exist.
2. Examine the wound of any potential damages to the tissues and blood vessels, as dog bite puncture wound can sometimes be very deep. If you think the wound needs sutures, immediately go to the ER after applying some antibiotics ointment to cover the wound temporarily.
3. Keep the wound and its surrounding hygienic. If the wound is minor and no sutures need, you may dress it with sterilized moist bandage to promote faster healing.

How long does dog bite puncture wound heal?

A puncture wound resulted from a vaccinated-dog bite is commonly not prone to rabies. Hence, healing time will be based mostly on the condition and severity of the wound. Minor wounds, which is shallow, does not bleed a lot, and is resulted from a vaccinated dog may heal completely within a week. You only need to make sure that initial treatment is done correctly. A minor wound which is not treated properly has a risk of developing into infection, which may slow down the healing period. Minor wounds which causes not only a puncture, but also jagged skin may need longer time to heal, since the skin will need to form new skin cells and layer to replace the damaged one. Sometime, a dog bite wound causes bad damage to the skin, which is resulted from the strong teeth grasp. A dog bite wound which is deep but does not do any damage to skin inner layer should be sutured to promote faster healing. If the closure is stitched using non-dissolve stitches, you will have to visit your doctor within a week from the time the wound is suture to remove the stitches. By this time, the wound might have been fully closed, although one or two more weeks may be needed to completely heal the wounded skin. A severe dog bite puncture wound, however, might cause tissues and blood vessels damages. This wound usually causes severe bleeding and is prone to infection. Sutures might also be required and it takes a week before this suture loosens up. However, the healing time would be a lot longer, especially when it gets infected. An infection will likely to restart the half-way healing into the very beginning. Hence, a proper wound treatment is advised for any kinds of dog bite wounds. Keep it clean and covered to promote moist environment which is needed for new skin cells growth. This will enhance the whole healing phases and make it complete faster.