Hello I have a 15 month old boy who was bitten by a small dog today
while visiting my aunt.
He was bitten on one of his fingers and only a little blood came out.
I cleaned it with salt water and it was fine after that.
He did cried uncontrollable but calmed down after about 15 minutes. Is
this something I should notify the doctor or be concerned about?
do you know that the dog has had rabies vacinations?
otherwise I'd definately find out from the owner.
Dear I.,
Dog saliva (just like cats and humans) can have bacteria in it that can cause nasty infections. You did appropriate first aid care. Often, we recommend antibiotics for a few days such as Amoxicillin-Clavulinate. If there is no sign of infection, you are probably safe to watch and wait. If there is any sign of redness, tenderness or swelling, the finger should be looked at by a doctor and antibiotics may be needed.
Good luck.
K. H., MD
If he's ok now and you've disinfected the area there is no need to see the doctor unless the dog is unknown to you and you are fearful that it hasn't had its shots.
Unless you are a doctor, please do not give medical advice!!! I. - All the moms who told you to watch and wait do not have any business giving you advice. As a physician, I can tell you that the advice you got to go to your provider or the ER if the skin is broken is correct. Please call your doctor and do not ask untrained people you do not even know for medical advice. If fingers or hands get infected, it can cause lasting damage and disability. Most likely, with a small bite, he will be fine with antibiotics, but he needs to be treated.
You should absolutely call the doctor. Anytime your child is bitten or skin breaks on the finger call your doctor. Our hands and fingers can get infected easily because we use them some much out there. I am sure it's okay, just be on the safe side.
As long as you know the dog, and it has had all its shots, and it has not been bitten recently by any other animals, it's fine. Babies will cry when they get hurt, just like adults will and some cry more than others, just like adults, depending on how sensitive he or she is.
Of course if you are not sure about the dog, by all means at least put a call in to the doctor. It may, if nothing else, just ease your mind.
As long as the dog and your baby has had all their shots and the sore looks fine on your boy you're good. Just put some neosporin on it and slap on a colorful bandaid. Check it the next day if it looks better repeat! If it looks worse, take him to the doctor.
I would keep on eye on it the next couple of days...as long as you knowe the dog has had all its shots and is not a high risk of caring diseases then i'm sure he's fine. Just make sure it doesn't get infected.
A little about me- first time mom to 14 month old little boy
Absolutely yes, he may need to be on antibiotics. Put some neosporin on it (if he's not allergic to it) and keep it clean. If there is an open wound or scrape, also put a band-aid on it. Staff infections are going around this country like crazy.
When I worked in the ER people who came in with a dog bite it had to be reported to animal control. With any animal bite I would get it checked it.
You shoould soak his finger in a 1/4 tablespoon of SEA salt(not table salt)mixed with 8 oz (1 cup) of luke warm water foe 5 minuits 3x a day. for at least a week.
Keep an eye on it. if the area gets red at all, he will need antibiotics. Puncture wounds can infect under the healed surface (scab, that is why they need to be soaked.
My son was bitten by a dog 2 months ago, and I found out that ALL dog bites mus be reported, even if no action on your part is taken, and even if it is your dog. its a law now.
I just googled "Dog Bites" and each of the sites said that if you had a bite that bled and was on the hand you would need to take oral antibiotics. It seems there is a much higher risk of infection when the bite is on the hand. You can go to "Ask Dr. Sears", for a more detailed answer. It is important to know if the dog is current on it's Rabies shots, also where your son is with his Tetnus shots. It is very important to call your doctor and get an appt for your son.
You need to know if the dog has been vaccinated for rabies. If it has, the things you would need to worry about would be tetanus and infection. If your son is not up to date on his tetanus shots he would need one. Also keep the area very clean and put neosporin on it. This happened to my son when we first got our puppy - they were chasing each other and playing and the puppy's sharp little teeth scraped his ankle enough to break skin. He will likely be fine but just take precautions to be on the safe side.
Hi I.,
I am so sorry to hear about your son's finger, How scary for the both of you. I know that this response is a little late, but I hope that you took your son to the Dr. With animal bites you have to be concerned with tetanus and rabies that the dog can pass on to your son. Hopefully the Dr. encouraged you to vaccinate your boy against these diseases. Also you need to keep checking his finger for signs of infection (finger remains red, warm, has any liquid draining from his finger, or if he comes down with a temp) If any of these things happen, make sure that you see his Dr. again immediatley. Hope that all is well, by the time that you read this. Take care!!!
A. Nichols
Work At Home United
###-###-####
____@____.com
Yes, take the child in to the pediatrician. Any dog bite where skin was broken requires antibiotics. My daughter was bitten by my parents dog in May and that's what my pedi told us. We had to do antibiotics for a week. Also, you need to report the dog to the local authorities. They need to make sure this hasn't happened before and that rabies shot for the dog are up to date. The dog also needs to be quarantined for 10 days. HTH!
i would have him checked out just to be safe. and if you know the dog has been checked for rabies and the like then at least you can pass that information on to your ped.
have the dog put to sleep
Dear I.,
Did you check with the dogs owners to see if it had been given the proper immunizations?
Do that first, because the doctor will ask about that right away.
C. N.
I would only notify the doctor if the dog wasn't up to date on his shots. I'm sure if it's your Aunt's dog....it's probably fine. You did the correct first aid with the salt water. Dog bites are not like snake bites. Don't worry...he'll be fine.
I would notify your pediatrician about the bite, especially if you aren't sure if the dog's had all of its shots. It's a least worth a phone call to the doctor.
my daughter was once bit also. twice actually and I took her to the hospital and honestly they washed it as you already did told me to watch for a fever and any redness and sent me home with a fifty dollar bill, so if the bite area has no red inflamed area I believe you may be fine five motrin and or tylenol for his discomfort.
Hi! Make sure that you call your pediatrician and tell them what happened from the point of view of infection, etc. Also make sure that the dog is up to date on its shots.
I.,
Do you know who owns' the dog? Need to know if it's a stray or not, if the dog has had it's shots too. I would just call the dr. to be sure since the dog broke skin.
Better safe than sorry
i agree with the previous responses. do you know the owner of the dog and if their dog has had the necessary shots.
I would just to be safe.
