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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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How Can A Dog Bite Wound Be Treated?

I got a minor dog bite today from a medium poodle. It barely punctured the skin in one spot and it s purple and raised where the teeth went. My doctor said I don t need to go in and watch for any infection. Then if it becomes infected, he would give penicillin. I cleaned the area. Is this all I need to do?
Thu, 18 May 2017
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hello, my name is Dr.Dorina Gurabardhi. I understand your concern.
Some advices that I can give to you are:
-Place a clean towel over the injury to stop any bleeding.
-Try to keep the injured area elevated.
-Wash the bite carefully with soap and water.
-Apply a sterile bandage to the wound.
-Apply antibiotic ointment to the injury every day to prevent infection.
- make sure that you are up to date on your tetanus shot.
-You may need to take antibiotics for seven to 14 days to prevent or treat an infection
-it's very important to see a doctor, especially if an unfamiliar dog bit you, the bite is deep, or there are any signs of infection (redness, swelling, warmth, pus).
Hope my answer was helpful, if you have any other questions I'll be glad to help, thanks!
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How Can A Dog Bite Wound Be Treated?

Hello, my name is Dr.Dorina Gurabardhi. I understand your concern. Some advices that I can give to you are: -Place a clean towel over the injury to stop any bleeding. -Try to keep the injured area elevated. -Wash the bite carefully with soap and water. -Apply a sterile bandage to the wound. -Apply antibiotic ointment to the injury every day to prevent infection. - make sure that you are up to date on your tetanus shot. -You may need to take antibiotics for seven to 14 days to prevent or treat an infection -it s very important to see a doctor, especially if an unfamiliar dog bit you, the bite is deep, or there are any signs of infection (redness, swelling, warmth, pus). Hope my answer was helpful, if you have any other questions I ll be glad to help, thanks!