Infected Dog Bite to the Hand

This patient presented to the ER the day after being bit in the right hand by her own dog. As you can see there is already signs of infection (swelling, redness, and a streak of redness going up the forearm)

[hennies]

The same happened to me, in less than 15 seconds I was scrubbing and pushing with iodine into the small bitemarks. Did it for 30 minutes, pat it dry and went to sleep. Next morning no red hand yet or swelling. I kept watch, it did not go red and no swelling. This was about 2 years ago and luckily no Dr's visits necessary.

[welshwitch]

Working as a vet tech, the worst bites I experienced were cats. Swell up like a balloon and take augmentin. I had dog bites, but the infection was much worse from the cats.

[dollyknockers]

I was bitten by my dog earlier this year and despite going straight to A&E and having the wounds cleaned and starting antibiotics I still ran into problems. Two days later I was admitted for IV antibiotics and surgery. They opened up two fingers joints and the palm of my hand and irrigated them to remove as much infected material as possible. The wounds were then dressed but not closed and put into a cast and allowed to heal by second intention. The cast was removed twice a week, wounds redressed and cast applied again for four weeks. Even now, four months on, I still do not have full mobility or sensation in parts of my hand. Anyone getting a bite from an animal, or human, needs to seek medical assessment at the earliest opportunity.

[ldwithrow]

My mother used to say "never let the sun go down on an animal bite". Get to an emergency room IMMEDIATELY. It needs to be opened, cleaned and treated with antibiotics ASAP. Waiting till the infection sets in risks losing a limb.

[SouthernMama]

Owning dogs through the years I have had small nips and bites, especially from younger and more rambunctious male dogs. I always treat straight away anything even something superficial. But an actual cat bite, that’s a doctors visit immediately. There isn’t anything nastier then having a cat bite. My own are bad enough, but I know they are fully vaxed. I startled a neighborhood cat on my back porch a few years ago and it bit me good on the foot. It was too late to go to the doctor that night so I cleaned it out and started an antibiotic I had at the house. The next morning my whole foot was swollen and red and so tender I barely made it to my doctor.

[chrisrichardson]

Back in the early 50s my mother got bit by a dog in the head she stuck her head through a fence and got bit and she had to have stitches and all that I hope you're feeling better God bless

[mikelawson]

I always, remembered my pharmacology, as corny as it sounds, as "been bitten, augmentin"

[JulieMac]

same thing im going through right now and my pain is so severe that it is easily 10/10

[angelxe]

if dogs or cats are fighting please do not put your hand in. for cats loud noise or spray with water will set them apart.

[IPPredators]

I use the breed German Shepherds, 11 females and 1 stud.. Fights randomly happened and I was bitten in the hands trying to separate them. I had antibiotics around just for this. You really need to clean the bites well and start antibiotics ASAP. Never wait until it gets this bad. Those little dogs seem to do more damage than the Shepherds. Weird...

[paulmiller]

Four days ago my dog had a paper towel with chocolate in it. He didn’t want to gucpve it up. Rather than offering him some other treat I told him to give it to me and he bit my index finger. I did not notice any broken skin or bleeding. Yesterday morning I noticed a red raised area behind the nail and the finger was stiff. Tonight, 4 days later, the redness has moved to my knuckle. I went to the doc just after work and she said we had to keep our eye on it and prescribed an antibiotic. She said she thought that it would begin healing in 2 days with the antibiotic. I would have gone to the doc immediately if skin had been broken. I hope it heals.

[dohyunkim]

Thank you so much for a very informative video Doc!

[willthorson]

I lived in northern Alaska, and I was bit on my knee by a husky. 3 deep punctures, and being in Alaska in a small.eskimo village, I as a 13 year old had to sit at the aid station and clean the wounds myself with iodine and medical scrub brush. 30 minutes of cleaning, 24 hours waiting to see if the dog had rabies. It didn't, thank God. But yeah...that's the way it was in northern Alaska.

[HaLLiEB]

Any update on her ?? Admitted, surgery ?

[sarahbarton]

My nan had a terrible infection like this from when her cat bit her real bad . She needed surgery in the end .

[judytramel]

She got there in time. Blood poisoning was starting. Got to love her.

[arapahosundancer]

I got bit by my poodle 4 days ago. Swelling is setting in and pain is around 5 on a scale of 1 to 10.

[heidiquayle]

My brother almost lost his finger and was in so much pain, with so many treatments and antibiotics for months. Get help right away!!

[charlenehoward]

I was bit in the face when I was 4 by a rabid chihuahua. They cleaned it and sprayed a yellow colored antibiotic that the farmers used on cows. Then the shots thank goodness I don't remember them. When I was 16 I was bit by a Germany Shepard in the face. It was my friends husband's dog we brought from CA. He was taught to be a fear biter by beating the dog to train it to be a guard dog. it was sad because no animal should be treated that way. I reach into the back seat and it shook me from one side to the other. The police had to kill it so I could get out. I have had many dogs.i now have to incredible dogs and I love them all. The others were not treated with love and taken to the vet for rabies shots.

[gentlegiants]

Holy crap, it's that bad in less than 24 hours! Thank goodness she got her self right to the doctor or she probably would have lost that hand.