Steps to Take If Another Dog Bites Your Dog .

May 22, 2010

Pets

Dogs bite other dogs for several different reasons. The most common reason is for self-defense or to establish dominance. Remember even nice and cute dogs do bite other dogs, often times with no warning.

If you are asking yourself, "a dog bit my dog, what should I do?" Let need guide you through this situation with some clear and simple steps you need to take to protect your pet and yourself.

Dog bites are much more common than you think. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) more than 800,000 people in United States are bitten every year. The number of dogs that are bitten by other dogs is probably even much greater than this, but we do not know for sure since these numbers are not recorded.

Dogs bite each other for several different reasons. The most common reason is for self-defense or to establish dominance. Remember even nice and cute dogs do bite other pets, often times with no warning.

So if your dog has been bitten here are five steps they need to take:

1. The first thing you need to do is to remove your dog and yourself from the situation. Do not try and put yourself between the two fighting dogs, you will likely get bitten if you do.
2. Try and get the contact information of the other dog's owner, but if this is not possible least write down a description of the person. You could also write down a description of their car, the direction they left in, or get the names of any witnesses.
3. Write down a description of the pet that has bitten your dog, noting the breed, weight, and any markings.
4. Take your pet to the veterinarian to be evaluated, even if the injuries seem minor.
5. Check and make sure your pet's rabies vaccinations are current and if the other dog has been vaccinated for rabies.

Dog bites can cause severe damage, which may not be obvious. Even though the skin may only have a couple of teeth marks in it, the crushing force of a bite can cause tremendous damage to underlying tissue which is not immediately obvious.

So if you have any doubt about whether or not to take your dog to see the veterinarian, please err on the side of caution. Some bites may only require a cleaning of the area, whereas other bites might require x-rays, surgeries, and antibiotics.

So remember these five steps if your dog is ever bitten by another dog, and please keep your dog current their rabies vaccinations.

What did you think of this tutorial?