We expect our furry friends to be fun and sociable, and most of the time they are. But unfortunately, a seemingly friendly dog can bite and even attack a stranger, causing a wide range of injuries that require treatment.
A dog bite will certainly create puncture wounds that will vary in their depth and severity. Severe dog bites can cause serious bleeding and even lead to infections, nerve problems, permanent scarring, and disfigurement.
A few types of infections that could be caused by a dog bite include rabies, pasteurella, meningitis, blood infections, and staph and strep infections.
Dog bite injuries may also include:
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Broken nose and facial bones
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Broken arm, hand, wrist, or fingers
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Broken leg, ankle or foot
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Hip fractures
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Skull fractures
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Broken ribs
A dog bite or attack that targets the face and eyes can lead to:
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Corneal abrasion
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Perforation or dislocation of the lens
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Punctures and ruptures
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Orbital fractures
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Intraocular hemorrhage
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Loss of an eye
If an individual suffers an injury while running away from an attacking dog, they can fall and sustain a concussion or traumatic brain injury (TBI). A severe TBI can have a life-changing impact on the victim’s vision, mobility, memory, judgment, and emotions.
Dog bites often cause psychological trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder, particularly in children. Survivors of dog bites may experience nightmares, develop a fear of dogs and going outside, and struggle with symptoms of anxiety.
It is extremely important for dog bite survivors to seek medical treatment as soon as possible. Only a licensed medical professional is qualified to identify and treat the injuries, and create an official record describing the nature and extent of the injuries.
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At Westcare Clinics, healthcare practitioners treat dog bite injuries with pain management techniques, injections, and occupational medicine.
Joint and soft tissue injections, such as epidural injections (interlaminar and transforaminal), piriformis injection, sacroiliac joint injections, and trigger point injections, may be done to address tissue damage, ease pain, and support overall recovery. The type of injection that is done will depend on the location of the injury and its severity.
To support recovery from a dog bite, doctors may recommend incorporating pain management techniques into the treatment plan; techniques may include cold and heat therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, music therapy, mind-body techniques, gentle exercise, biofeedback, and therapeutic massage. The pain management techniques will be customized according to the patient’s injury.
Westcare Clinics also offers occupational medicine, which focuses on helping an injured worker regain the strength and flexibility they need to return to work. Our healthcare practitioners train employers to adapt the workplace to the physical limitations of their recovering employee.
Survivors of dog bites and attacks may need complex, long-term care for their injuries. Advanced treatment may include surgery, physical therapy, chiropractic adjustment, acupuncture, and other forms of rehabilitation. Westcare Clinics is here to support survivors of dog bites and attacks on their journey to healing. Our team is happy to answer any questions patients may have about obtaining advanced treatment.
We expect our furry friends to be fun and sociable, and most of the time they are. But unfortunately, a seemingly friendly dog can bite and even attack a stranger, causing a wide range of injuries that require treatment.