First Aid Steps to Take After a Dog Bite on a Child – A Parents Guide

Kids love to be a part of the playful environment and when they play games it helps them in gross motor development. Also, the outdoor activities help students gain awareness of their environment, especially in situations that can be dangerous or cause harm to them.

A common situation in which kids are often found is playing on the streets that have access to stray dogs. The parents and other elders can tackle stray dogs better but what to do if a dog bites your child?

It is an unfortunate situation and no one will prepare you for this. But, there is uncertainty when it comes to animal behavior and hence, you should be prepared in advance for dog bite infection prevention. 

Reasons For Dog Bite In Children

You cannot foresee when or why a dog would bite a child. There are several reasons why a dog may bite.

• Some dogs appear larger than very small children. So, they might try to put them on kids by biting them.
• When playing with a family or neighbor’s dog, young children, particularly those under the age of five, may not completely grasp the notion of personal space. Their playful acts, such as pulling the dog’s tail or fur, can be misunderstood, causing the dog to bite. 
• When children suddenly go too close to a dog and scare it, the animal may respond by attacking.
• A sick or injured dog may bite out of their pain or habit.
• When a dog perceives a running youngster as prey, it may bite.

First Aid For Child Dog Bite Treatment

The first aid for dog bite on child can begin at home by parents taking the initial steps. You need not panic as it will only worsen the situation. Here are the steps that you should follow:

• Seeing a doctor is not required if there are no obvious skin marks, such as tears or punctures. 
• However, it is important to get medical advice after giving first aid if you sense that you are on the side of caution. 

If a youngster gets bitten by the family dog, follow these steps:

• Apply pressure to the wound with a fresh towel to stop the bleeding. Elevating the bitten area is another option.
• After cleaning the afflicted region with soap and water, leave it under running water for a while.
• Apply an antibiotic ointment after dabbing dry.
• Avoid getting the wound sutured and do not apply any dressing.

How Does A Dog Bite Affect Children

The decision of what to do if a dog bites your child comes after introspecting the effect of such an incident on your child. If you think that it is only the wound that occurs, chances are that you have to sit with your child and discuss these incidents and how they feel about it.

Emotional Impact

The psychological trauma that your child suffers as a result of a dog bite is likely to last a lifetime. This may permanently alter your child’s perception of dogs and pets. Having your child examined for emotional trauma and receiving counseling can help them overcome this.

Physical Impact

Physical dog bites can range from minor to serious. While small injuries require simply a doctor’s visit and simple first aid, major injuries may necessitate surgery. This is because major injuries typically occur in the head, neck, and face, where nerves and bones are easily damaged. Reconstructive surgery may be required to address this type of physical injury.

Dog Bite Infection Prevention Tips And Treatment

To minimize further complications, seek medical attention after delivering first aid, regardless of how severe the bite is. Depending on the severity of the bite, your child may receive a tetanus injection, an antirabies vaccine, and, if necessary, antirabies immunoglobulin. The typical rabies vaccine schedule is five doses on days 0, 3, 7, 14, and 30. In this case, day ‘0’ marks the beginning of the immunization. Previously unvaccinated people should get five 1 ml doses of IM rabies vaccination.

The first dose of this five-dose regimen should be given as soon as practicable following exposure. This date is then designated day 0 of the post-exposure prophylaxis regimen. 

The remaining doses should be delivered on days 3, 7, 14, and 28 following the first vaccine. The doctor will also prescribe medications to help prevent or treat infection. If the injuries require reconstructive surgery, particularly on the face or neck, a plastic surgeon will be consulted.

In India, because rabies is prevalent in a large population of dogs and cats, initiating treatment and keeping the biting dog/cat under monitoring for ten days is required which should be done after the basic first aid for dog bite on a child.

Treating dog bites in toddlers begins with teaching them precautions that are as follows:

• When choosing a pet dog, look for a breed noted for its loving demeanor.
• Never leave your child alone with a dog, even if it is a family pet who has been with you for a long time.
• Avoid demonstrations of affection that entail hugging, kissing, or other acts that may bring your face too near to the dog.
• Do not approach a dog that is feeding its puppies.
• Teach your youngster how to deal with violent pets. If the dog appears unfriendly, instruct them to stand still and look down.
• Make sure your youngsters understand not to tease dogs by taking their toys or goodies.
• The children should be made to understand the different between a home pet and a stray dog. Similar behaviours cannot be expected and the helps in dog bite infection prevention.

Also Read – Best Vitamins and Supplement for Child Growth- Full Details

Conclusion

Treating dog bites in toddlers involves first aid treatment at home and immediate medical attention from a certified and trusted medical professional. Children get excited around cats and dogs and this can lead to concerns related to the dog’s behaviour around them. They say prevention is better than cure and hence, prevention steps are a must.