A dog bite can happen quickly and often when we least expect it. Even if the wound looks small, most animal bites carry bacteria that may lead to infection if left untreated.
This article explains how to deal with dog bites safely, from first aid at home to when to see a doctor. It also covers important topics such as tetanus shots, rabies vaccination, and ways to prevent bite wounds in the future.
Why Do Dogs Bite?
Dogs may bite for many reasons, including:
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Fear or stress – when feeling threatened.
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Pain – even pets may bite if touched near an injury.
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Protecting resources – guarding food, toys, or puppies.
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Over-excitement – during rough play, especially with children.
The RSPCA advises never to leave young children alone with pets, and to supervise interactions carefully.
What To Do Right Now (first 10 minutes)
If you or someone you know suffers a dog bite, the first few minutes matter most. Acting quickly can lower the risk of infection and improve healing.
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Stop the bleeding – If the bite bleeds slightly, press a clean cloth firmly against the wound. For uncontrollable bleeding or if someone is bleeding severely, seek emergency treatment straight away.
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Rinse the wound – Place the bite under warm running water for at least five minutes. This helps flush out dirt and bacteria from the dog’s mouth. Do not scrub, as this may damage the skin. The NHS advises avoiding harsh chemicals inside deeper wounds, as they can irritate tissue rather than help healing.
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Cover and protect – Apply a clean dressing, sterile bandage, or clean tissue to cover the wound. If you don’t have these, a clean cloth or even a plastic bag in an emergency can help reduce contamination until you reach medical care.
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Seek medical attention – Even minor wounds can carry a risk of infection. If the wound is on the hands or feet, or if the skin around the bite swells, looks red, or feels painful, call your GP or NHS 111.
By acting fast, you not only stop the bleeding but also prevent infection from taking hold. Most animal bites can lead to serious infection if left untreated, so never ignore them.
Symptoms
Recognising the signs of infection early can prevent serious complications. A bite wound can look minor at first but change quickly within 24–48 hours.
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Pain and swelling – The surrounding skin may become sore, swollen, and warm to touch.
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Redness – Red streaks spreading away from the wound can be a warning of infection pressing deeper into the body.
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Unpleasant smell – If the bite smells unpleasant or leaks fluid, this may mean bacteria are active.
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Discharge – Yellow or green pus, or high temperature fluid from the wound, can show a serious infection is starting.
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Systemic signs – Fever, chills, or feeling unwell mean the infection is affecting your whole body. This can become life threatening if ignored.
Children and people with weaker immune systems are at higher risk. Even minor wounds on the hands or feet can progress to deeper wounds like tendon or joint infections. If symptoms worsen quickly or the wound looks infected, go to A&E.
How Serious Are Dog Bite Wounds?
Not all dog bites are equal. Some may leave only minor wounds, while others cause extensive wounds that need urgent care. The seriousness depends on several factors:
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Depth and location – Deeper wounds in the hands, feet, or face carry higher risk because infections can spread to joints, bones, or nerves.
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Dog’s mouth bacteria – Even healthy dogs carry bacteria that can enter the wound. Human bites are known to be dangerous too, but dog bites still pose a strong risk of infection.
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Victim’s health – People with diabetes, liver disease, or low immune system function face greater risk of complications.
In rare cases, a bite may expose you to rabies if you are bitten by a wild animal abroad. While rabies is not present in UK dogs, travellers should always seek disease control advice and a rabies vaccination if bitten overseas.
How Should I Assess Someone With a Dog Or Cat Bite?
If you are first on the scene after a dog or cat bite, a quick assessment can guide your next steps. Healthcare professionals often follow a checklist, but you can use a simple version at home before seeking help:
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Check the body part – Is the bite on the hands, feet, face, or near a joint? These areas are higher risk and need urgent medical attention.
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Depth of wound – Minor wounds may heal with simple cleaning and a sterile bandage, while deeper wounds may require antibiotics, stitches, or even special glue to close.
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Bleeding control – If bleeding severely, apply a clean cloth firmly. Use sticky strips or a clean bandage for smaller cuts.
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Health conditions – Consider if the person has diabetes, takes steroids, or has any condition lowering their immune system. These make infection more likely.
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Animal type – Was it a familiar pet, an unfamiliar dog, a wild animal, or even a human bite? Most animal bites can infect, but wild animal bites and human bites carry added risks.
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Unusual behaviour – If the animal was acting strangely, or if the bite happened abroad, mention this when you speak to a doctor. Rabies risk must be ruled out.
When Should I Refer Someone With a Dog Or Cat Bite?
Sometimes a bite wound is too complex for basic first aid or GP care. In the UK, doctors may refer to hospital specialists if:
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The wound involves hands or feet, where deeper structures like tendons, joints, and nerves are at risk.
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There are extensive wounds that may need surgical cleaning, special glue, or stitches under anaesthetic.
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The bite is on a child’s face—plastic surgeons often repair these for the best cosmetic result.
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The person has health conditions (such as diabetes, liver disease, or suppressed immune system) that increase the risk of serious infection.
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There are signs of infection spreading quickly, such as swelling, redness up the arm, fever, or uncontrolled pain.
If left untreated, animal and human bites can cause life threatening complications, including blood poisoning or joint infections. For this reason, GPs will often err on the side of referral if the wound looks high-risk.
How Should I Assess The Risk Of Tetanus And Rabies?
Two key infections need special attention after a dog bite: tetanus and rabies.
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Tetanus: This bacterial infection can be fatal if left untreated. Most people in the UK are protected through vaccination, but a booster (tetanus shot) may be needed if it has been more than 10 years since the last one, or if the wound is deep or dirty.
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Rabies: The UK is free from rabies in dogs, but the risk exists if bitten by a wild animal (like a bat) or while travelling abroad. In these cases, urgent medical attention is needed for rabies vaccination and sometimes a rabies shot with immunoglobulin.
Healthcare professionals assess risk based on:
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Where the bite happened (UK vs abroad).
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What type of animal was involved.
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The wound’s severity and location.
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The person’s vaccination history.
If the animal was acting strangely or is an unfamiliar dog abroad, always mention this to a doctor. Quick action can prevent life threatening diseases.
How Should I Manage a Cat or Dog Bite Wound?
Management depends on the wound’s depth, location, and infection risk. Typical steps include:
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Cleaning – Healthcare professionals flush the wound with warm water or saline to reduce bacteria.
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Debridement – If the wound is deep, damaged or dead tissue may be removed.
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Closure – Minor wounds may be closed with sticky strips or special glue. Deeper wounds are often left open to prevent infection press building inside.
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Dressing – A clean dressing or sterile bandage is applied. This should be changed daily or if it becomes dirty or wet.
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Pain control – Pain can be managed with paracetamol or ibuprofen unless otherwise advised.
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Follow-up – Healthcare professionals may schedule a review within 24–48 hours to check for signs of infection.
According to NICE, most animal bites on the hand or foot should be left open to reduce the risk of infection.
Should My Child Need Antibiotics?
Children are more vulnerable to infection from animal bites. In the UK, doctors often prescribe antibiotics if:
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The bite is on the face, hands, or feet.
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The wound is a puncture bite, which carries a higher risk.
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The wound was not cleaned quickly.
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The child has a weaker immune system or other health conditions.
NICE advises antibiotics for higher risk wounds to prevent complications.
Parents should never rely only on home remedies. Even if a wound bleeds slightly, infection may develop in the surrounding skin. A healthcare professional will decide if antibiotics are necessary.
Should My Child Need To Tetanus or Rabies Vaccinations?
After a dog bite, doctors review a child’s vaccination history:
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Tetanus: If their vaccinations are up to date, no extra shot may be needed. If not, a tetanus shot is offered.
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Rabies: Rare in the UK, but if the bite happened abroad or from a wild animal, a rabies vaccination or rabies shot may be given urgently.
It is important to act quickly, as rabies can be life threatening. Always tell the doctor if your child was bitten by an unfamiliar dog or a wild animal.
When To Call The Doctor
Knowing when to seek medical attention can prevent complications. In the UK, NHS guidance recommends seeing a doctor the same day for most dog bites, even if they appear minor.
Call your GP or NHS 111 if:
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The wound bleeds slightly but continues oozing after first aid.
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There are signs of infection: swelling, redness, pus, or if the bite smells unpleasant.
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The wound is on hands, feet, face, or near joints.
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You are unsure about tetanus vaccination status and may need a tetanus shot.
Go to A&E immediately if:
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There is uncontrollable bleeding despite pressure with a clean cloth.
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The wound involves extensive wounds or deeper wounds with visible muscle or bone.
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The person is a child, especially if you cannot leave young children calm and safe.
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The victim develops fever, chills, or becomes unwell quickly.
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The bite comes from a wild animal or from abroad, where rabies is possible.
Possible Complications
If a dog bite is left untreated, several complications may occur:
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Infection: The most common problem, often starting with swelling, pain, or pus.
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Scarring: Especially after bites to the face or extensive wounds.
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Joint and bone infections: These can cause long-term damage.
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Blood poisoning (sepsis): A life threatening emergency.
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Rare diseases: Such as Brucella canis in imported dogs, though this remains uncommon in the UK.
Always watch for signs of infection, like spreading redness, pain, or if the bite smells unpleasant.
How To Prevent Dog Bite
Preventing dog bites is always better than treatment:
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Supervise children with dogs.
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Teach children not to disturb dogs while eating or sleeping.
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Keep dogs on a lead in public, and use a muzzle if needed.
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Socialise pets properly so they are used to people and other animals.
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Learn to spot signs of stress in dogs, such as growling, showing teeth, or backing away.
Prevention reduces the risk of animal and human bites and keeps both people and pets safe.
FAQs
What to do when a dog bites?
Clean the wound under running water, stop the bleeding with a clean cloth, cover with a clean dressing, and seek medical attention.
When to go to the doctor for a dog bite?
Always the same day for any broken skin. Go to A&E for uncontrollable bleeding, deeper wounds, or if the person becomes unwell.
Do I need a tetanus after a dog bite?
You may need a tetanus shot if your last vaccination was more than 10 years ago or the wound is dirty.
How do I know if a dog bite is serious?
Look for deeper wounds, uncontrolled bleeding, swelling, signs of infection, or if the bite was from a wild animal. In these cases, seek emergency treatment.
Conclusion
A dog bite should never be ignored, even if it looks small. Most animal bites carry a risk of infection, and some can become life threatening if left untreated. By cleaning the wound quickly, covering it with a clean dressing, and seeking medical attention, you can prevent complications and heal safely.
