Dog bit my wife's hand yesterday

[balloonshark]

I bet that lil sumbitch was a poodle or part poodle. Never trust a poodle. They are pure evil.

Everyone should have to watch a season of The Dog Whisperer. Also, if you do reach out do it underhanded and not overhanded.

 

[Imp]

Hope she disinfected the shit out of it -- hiyo -- and see a doctor. Seriously, seen stories of "nips" turning into blood poison and multiple amputations.

Apparently, deep puncture wounds may be worse than big shallow ones when it comes to germs.

 

[Zargon]

I bet that lil sumbitch was a poodle or part poodle. Never trust a poodle. They are pure evil.

Everyone should have to watch a season of The Dog Whisperer. Also, if you do reach out do it underhanded and not overhanded.

LOL, I don't know a single person that actually works with dogs that respects the dog whisperer and they all wish he was off the air

I have no idea why, though

 

[evident]

LOL, I don't know a single person that actually works with dogs that respects the dog whisperer and they all wish he was off the air

I have no idea why, though

does he give bad advice ?

 

[Zargon]

I assume as much, yes

 

[Bunlee]

that's a sad thing to hear..hope she's ok now

 

[digiram]

Always the small ones.

 

[runzwithsizorz]

I bet that lil sumbitch was a poodle or part poodle. Never trust a poodle. They are pure evil.

Everyone should have to watch a season of The Dog Whisperer. Also, if you do reach out do it underhanded and not overhanded.

BINGO! http://www.wikihow.com/Approach-a-Shy-or-Fearful-Dog

 

[monkeydelmagico]

. Also, if you do reach out do it underhanded and not overhanded.

How about don't reach out to strange dogs? Especially not ones that are barking at you?

 

[Mike64]

Hope she continues to do fine. As with all deep puncture wounds, if she hadn't had a tetanus booster within the past 7-10 years, it's a good idea to get one, but I don't think there's much risk of tetanus specifically because it's an animal bite.

If anecdotal evidence makes you and/or your wife feel any better, I'll note that even when my late cat inadvertently sank his rather large canine into my hand right up to his gum, nothing at all ever came of it, and cat bites are statistically more likely to become infected than dog bites.

 

[Imp]

Hope she continues to do fine. As with all deep puncture wounds, if she hadn't had a tetanus booster within the past 7-10 years, it's a good idea to get one, but I don't think there's much risk of tetanus specifically because it's an animal bite.

If anecdotal evidence makes you and/or your wife feel any better, I'll note that even when my late cat inadvertently sank his rather large canine into my hand right up to his gum, nothing at all ever came of it, and cat bites are statistically more likely to become infected than dog bites.

I looked up dog bits last night and, apparently, ~20% of dog bites become infected. That means 80% chance of not being infected, but 1 in 5 is nothing to scoff at.

http://www.aafp.org/afp/2001/0415/p1567.html

 

[FerrelGeek]

can we change the name of small dogs. Big dogs should still be called dogs.


small dogs should be called something else like purses or demonbiters

Four-legged footballs

 

[FerrelGeek]

Yes. Little dogs are usually the more skittish type. And a fair few have a definite size complex.

Btw, depending on the state if you go to a doc due to the bite, they are required by law to report it to the local health department - at least they have to here in Ohio. Technically, the health department can ask that the dog be quarantined for 10 days (home quarantine is allowed). My mom got nailed by her little b*tch several years ago and had to go to the ER to get it treated. Doc there told her he had to report and if it ever happened again, the health department could have grounds to put her down - the dog that is.

This. Unfortunately that's why so many end up in shelters. People get them but don't want to put in the effort to train them. Then they're surprised when the animal acts out. The dog thinks its the pack alpha unless you show them otherwise.

Another thing people don't understand about little dogs is they're balls of nervous energy. I think people get them thinking they're low maintenance. Quite the opposite is true. Even compared to larger breeds. You want a small pet that's low energy, get a cat.

Also lesson learned for the OP's, don't go near an angry dog regardless of what their dippy owner says.

 

[Mike64]

1 in 5 is nothing to scoff at.

I wasn't suggesting she should "scoff" at the bite, but even minor skin cuts/scrapes often develop an easily-treated, minor localized infection. Our skin is covered with potentially pathogenic bacteria, especially Staph(ylococcus), so that's not too surprising. Usually it's not something to be particularly concerned about beyond taking routine home fiirst-aid precautions.

As for that article, keep in mind that it also notes that only ~20% of all projected dog bites are reported in the first place. Presumably it's the more serious bites and ones actually showing signs of infection that do get reported, so the likelihood of any given dog bite becoming infected is probably much lower than 1 in 5. (If I'm not misremembering my negligible knowledge of statistics, only 3-4% according to the article's numbers. Edit: That estimate is too low. NVM)

And as for tetanus, specifically, it isn't even mentioned in that article. There are, in fact, many fewer than 100 reported cases of tetanus per year in the US from all sources, and since it's caused by anaerobic bacteria, pretty unlikely to be present in an animal's mouth.

 

[Mike64]

Four-legged footballs

Exactly. :biggrin: When toy dogs start yapping at me, I'm likely to tell them to shut up if they don't want to get drop-kicked down the street...

 

[BrokenVisage]

Just hearing a dog bark is like bites on my fucking ear drum.

 

[SandEagle]

lawyer up.
dont kiss her either. can rabies be transmitted orally?

 

[Mike64]

lawyer up.

And people blame lawyers for our society's litigiousness.

 

[SandEagle]

And people blame lawyers for our society's litigiousness.

why blame the lawyers? blame the dog and the dog owners.

 

[schmuckley]

They always say that.

Not the ones that have any sense.

 

[edro]

Why is everyone suggesting tetanus shots?

Dog bites don't give you tetanus...

 

[SketchMaster]

I hope everything turns out ok for your wife, make sure she gets to that appointment to have the bite looked at.

As someone who used to work with animals I really, REALLY, hate it when owners don't know how to read body language and end up reinforcing bad behavior. You don't talk cute and try to hug a child throwing a temper tantrum, so petting a barking dog is NOT what that owner should have let your wife do.

Most small breed dog owners thing it's "cute" when there dog barks at someone (Awww, it's just talking!), or "guards their toy". But if they saw the same behavior from a 40-80lbs dog, it's suddenly an issue. They just don't realize what seems harmless is actually very aggressive, dominant behavior.

If I had a choice between giving a shot to a 110lbs Rottweiler or a 10lbs Pincher, I would take the Rott hands down every time.

 

[Imp]

I wasn't suggesting she should "scoff" at the bite, but even minor skin cuts/scrapes often develop an easily-treated, minor localized infection. Our skin is covered with potentially pathogenic bacteria, especially Staph(ylococcus), so that's not too surprising. Usually it's not something to be particularly concerned about beyond taking routine home fiirst-aid precautions.

As for that article, keep in mind that it also notes that only ~20% of all projected dog bites are reported in the first place. Presumably it's the more serious bites and ones actually showing signs of infection that do get reported, so the likelihood of any given dog bite becoming infected is probably much lower than 1 in 5. (If I'm not misremembering my negligible knowledge of statistics, only 3-4% according to the article's numbers. Edit: That estimate is too low. NVM)

And as for tetanus, specifically, it isn't even mentioned in that article. There are, in fact, many fewer than 100 reported cases of tetanus per year in the US from all sources, and since it's caused by anaerobic bacteria, pretty unlikely to be present in an animal's mouth.

I didn't mean to say you were saying it was insignificant, just that 20% isn't a number in general to scoff at.

 

[Zodiark1593]

Screw pitbulls, these mutant sewer rats are the worst of the worst. However, it's certainly amusing to crush the chihuahua ego with my rc car, or my foot.

 

[Fern]

PSA: Dog owners, get your fucking dog out of people's face. Nobody finds its barking endearing. Dog owners are often such pricks with their dogs, even when the dog isn't violent. Just keep it out of people's space, it's rude as hell. Hopefully this woman's dog gets run over :thumbsup:

PSA: People need to stop coming up to my dog, whether he's with me on a leash or in my car asking if he bites. You're annoying the dog and me. And don't put you fricken hand towards him. You want some stranger walking up and grabbing you by the face?

Fern