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The disease risks of dog bites

On Behalf of | Jun 22, 2018 | Personal Injury

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Given how common dog ownership is in the United States, it is not unusual to come across these pets when out and about over the summer. Most of these encounters go without a hitch, and they might even bring a good deal of joy to those involved. However, every now and then, they take a very unfortunate turn, and a person ends up with a dog bite.

Dog bites can pose all kinds of dangers, but these dangers aren’t limited to the physical damage caused by the initial bite. Dog bites can create the risk of a person developing infections and diseases.

Many different kinds of diseases can come from dog bites, including tetanus, rabies, MRSA, Pasteurella and Capnocytophaga. These diseases vary in the harm they can cause, with some having the potential to be fatal.

The potential for dog bites to cause these serious diseases is only one of the reasons why it is critical for individuals to exercise care around dogs and for dog owners to take the proper steps to protect others from dog bites.

What can dog bite victims do to address infection and disease risks following the incident? It is wise to take the following steps:

  • Seek proper medical attention and care: This could help with reducing infection risks. It could also lead to the early detection of infections or diseases, which could help a person get treatment before things have a chance to escalate to dangerous levels.
  • Seek information on the dog’s vaccination history: This could provide important insights into what diseases might be a concern in connection to the bite. One option for seeking such information is talking to the dog’s owner.
  • Seek information on legal options: When a dog bite ends up leading to infections or diseases, or even if there is no infection or disease, a person could face daunting expenses when it comes to his or her recovery. Dog bite victims might have an avenue for seeking compensation to assist with such expenses, if necessary.

If you or someone you know has suffered from a dog bite, it is important to take the steps necessary to ensure no further harm is done. It’s better to be safe than sorry!

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