Contrary to popular belief, dogs aren’t as aggressive as people say. While dogs share a common ancestor with wolves, their aggressive instinct has been diluted over time - so much that the two species have many different behavioral differences between them. This is due in part to the fact that dogs are domesticated animals and most interact with humans from an early age, even those that are stray.
Still, the potential for aggressiveness remains even in those dogs that are well trained or domesticated, whereas dogs that live on the streets are more likely to return to the type of territorial behavior that their ancestors had and try to aggressively defend it. Therefore, in such situations, being bitten by the dog can be a possibility. Naturally, being bitten is a painful and potentially traumatizing experience depending on the severity of the situation.
Most of the time, a dog bites a human as a form of defense mechanism, but you can also get bitten by accident when playing with the dog. This very often happens with puppies if they are not well trained. When bitten, treatment of the wound is crucial. If you are bitten by a dog, regardless of the fact that it is domesticated or not, you must seek treatment for the wound immediately.
If a stray dog bites you, immediately go to a hospital and get some shots! These bites are extremely dangerous if left untreated, and they can spread diseases like rabies or tetanus! Make haste, as this can be the difference between life and death. If you get bitten by a dog that has got its shots against rabies, you should still seek medical attention.
Only when the dog is yours (and is vaccinated), he bites you by accident (during playing or training for instance) and the wound is very minor should you treat it at home, although you should still call your doctor and ask him what to do in this situation, so as to avoid any possible danger that could appear. If you have any suspicion that the wound is infected, don’t take chances and make an appointment with your doctor. There are two major types of wounds: punctures and lacerations. Punctures mean that the wound is done only in an area by the teeth piercing your skin. These are most of the time minor. Lacerations, however, mean that a part of the skin have been ripped off. If this happens, you should urgently seek medical attention, as lacerations cause severe hemorrhage, which can lead to death.
If the dog belongs to a friend or neighbor, and it bites you or someone you know, don’t take their word for it if they tell you that the dog has got all his shots. This is not something you need to risk, because, as previously mentioned, rabies and tetanus are fatal if not treated immediately! While the risk of rabies is rare today, due to the fact that the majority of dogs have gotten rabies shots, it is still a possible danger.
