What are the long-term effects of a dog bite? A dog attack is among the most terrible and upsetting events for both the victims and bystanders.
Dog attacks have the potential to cause severe psychological trauma. It may also result in disfigurement and physical scarring. A minor dog bite has the potential to become infected and lead to health complications.
The courts in Las Vegas acknowledge the right of a dog bite victim to pursue a claim for compensation to cover the injury’s lasting effects. If you need a Las Vegas dog bite attorney, don’t hesitate to call us at (702) 364-2483.
3 Long-Term Effects of a Dog Bite
A dog bite can affect a person’s physical and emotional well-being. Here are the three long-term effects of a dog bite:
Infections and Complications
Treating a dog bite injury as soon as it happens is essential. The chance that the bite will fester and get infected can rise if you wait. Dog bite injuries frequently result in bacterial infections because of the bacteria in the dog’s mouth. The victim must go to a hospital, urgent care facility, or doctor for immediate care. Treatment for a dog bite can include:
- Cleaning and clearing the wound of dirt and debris.
- Bandaging the wound to promote healing.
- Apply antibiotics and antibacterial ointments to avoid infection.
- Flushing the area.
If the victim of a dog bite experiences specific symptoms, they may develop an infection.
- Redness, particularly in streaks
- Swelling near the wound
- Drainage, like a pus
- Pain that lasts more than a day
- Having difficulty moving the injured body part
- Warmth emanating from the injury
- Night sweats and fever
Any signs of infection need to be treated by a doctor. A victim must ask the pet owner if the dog has received all its vaccinations before departing from the attack site.
Inadequate vaccines may result in rabies and tetanus, two potentially fatal consequences of a dog bite injury. Those diseases in humans have the potential to be deadly.
A deep bite may have additional long-term health effects for the victim, even if the dog isn’t transmitting bacteria. These can include fractured or broken bones, muscle, and nerve injury. With the proper care, visiting a hospital may help avoid these long-term problems.
Disfigurement and Scarring
Unfortunately, many dog attacks leave their victims with scars, disfigurements, or permanent injuries. Serious dog attacks can result in lacerations, avulsions, puncture wounds, and skin pulling away. Certain victims—children in particular—have these wounds in areas of the body that are vulnerable and susceptible, like the face. To reduce the amount of scarring and deformity caused by a dog attack, victims may need stitches, plastic surgery, skin grafts, or other types of surgery. On the other hand, a victim may always bear scars.
Psychological Effects
A dog bite can have more long-term consequences than just physical harm. A victim of a dog attack may potentially endure a variety of long-term psychological consequences. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common psychological result of a dog bite. Anxiety, panic, tension, despair, nightmares, and intrusive flashbacks are some of the symptoms that can accompany post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The dog attack victim may experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as may any onlookers who saw the attack, mainly if they were close to the victim.
A dog phobia is a frequent psychological impact that may persist long following an attack and, in many situations, the victim’s entire life. It is prevalent in young children who have survived traumatic dog attacks. A child’s pleasure in life can be negatively impacted by phobias, resulting in problems including anxiety, regression, nightmares, mood swings, outbursts, and emotional pain. A dog attack victim may develop a lifelong fear of dogs.
The Effects of Lesser-Known Dog Bite Injuries in Las Vegas
Dog bite victims may experience diseases or infections due to the bacteria in their mouths. For many victims of dog bites, sepsis is a common risk among other medical conditions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, dog attack injuries frequently lead to rabies, which infects the central nervous system. This condition can be fatal, especially if treatment is not received.
For victims, a dog attack may represent a horrifying experience. Consequently, those who are hurt may occasionally experience emotional or psychological problems—depression, withdrawal, nightmares, and flashbacks. Furthermore, the usual result of dog bites is post-traumatic stress disorder in many patients. These conditions could last for a long time or the entirety of the victim’s life.
Managing Dog Bites And Preventing Infections
People must clean the wound following a dog bite as soon as possible to help prevent infection. Minor wounds can be treated by:
- Ensure to completely clean the area after using warm water and soap to wash the wound.
- Applying lukewarm water on the wound to remove bacteria
- Putting antibiotic cream into the area and covering it with a new bandage.
For more severe, deeper wounds, people should:
- firmly applying a clean, dry cloth to the area to stop the bleeding
- Seeking immediate medical attention
- If the bleeding becomes excessive or the patient feels faint, calling 911 or receiving emergency assistance is advised.
Treatment
It might be possible for people to stop a dog bite from getting infected with at-home treatments. Minor wounds can usually be cleaned up right away. For more severe wounds, however, people ought to visit a doctor.
A physician might inject water and a cleansing agent into the wound using a syringe. By doing this, bacteria in the wound are flushed out. The doctor can then prescribe antibiotics to combat any bacteria that enter the body and stop the disease.
A medical professional may also look at the wound to check for damage to any bones or nerves within the body.
To lower the chance of tetanus, the individual may need a vaccination if they haven’t had one in the previous five years.
The American Academy of Pediatrics states that if it has been more than five years since a person’s last tetanus vaccination, they should get a booster shot. If a person hasn’t had a vaccination in over ten years, they should get one for a clean wound.
A person may require stitches to close a major wound on their face. To guard against the risk of contracting rabies, the person will require a postexposure rabies vaccination if they are unaware of the dog’s immunization history.
What to Do If a Dog Bite Has Injured You in Las Vegas?
People hurt by dog attacks in Las Vegas frequently need medical attention. Costs may increase, especially if long-term care is required due to the effects. The dog owner could be held accountable if the victim gets bitten without any fault of their own. Getting legal advice and representation may benefit people whom dog bites have harmed. They can learn about their options and rights from a dog bite attorney in Las Vegas.
Get Legal Support for Your Dog Attack Injury
If you’ve been through the trauma of a dog attack and are suffering from injuries, it’s crucial to seek legal support to protect your rights and secure the compensation you deserve. At Dog Bite King Law Group, we understand the factors that contributed to these incidents, including negligence on the part of dog owners, and we’re here to help you.
Establishing an attorney-client relationship with us means having a dedicated team to guide you through the legal process and advocate for your safety and well-being.
Don’t let the pain and suffering of a dog attack define your future – contact us today.