A dogs mouth harbors germs, so visit your doctor even if you do not need stitches. If the bleeding does not stop with gentle pressure on the wound, go to the emergency room. If you were bitten on the face or on a joint, go to the emergency room; you may require plastic surgery or x-rays. If you do not need immediate care, visit your doctor by the next day. If you are not up to date on tetanus boosters, you will need a tetanus shot. The doctor will also clean the wound and might dress it. Because of the potential for infection from any animal bite, you should also receive antibiotics. Its important to keep an eye on the bite wound for the first few days to ensure it does not become infected. If you see a red line forming from the wound, go to the emergency room.
Once youve been treated medically for the bite wound, its up to you to take any legal or behavioral actions. If the dog is yours, you need to address the reasons behind his aggressiveness, whether medical or behavioral. If your dog bit someone else, fully cooperate with the victim and authorities, providing your dogs veterinary history and quarantining your dog, if necessary. If you were bitten by a dog who is not your own, you may wish to file a report with your local animal control agency. The dog may be quarantined or even euthanized depending on his history and the owners wishes.
