I just got bit by a dog.

[panader0]

The postman put a box in our mail and it was for a neighbor about 2 miles
down the road. I figured I should drive it over. I let myself in the gate and was
about to knock on the door when the pit bull type dog came charging up.
His owner called him off but he ran up and bit my leg. "That's the
first time he ever bit anyone." The bite didn't cut my pants, but I lifted
them up and I was bleeding pretty good, sock soaked, shoe bloody.
No good deed goes unpunished. I cleaned it up, peroxide and bandage.
It'll be fine.

[avebury]

1. Did you verify with the owner that the dog was current on his shots? nt

[DesertFlower]

2. do you know if the dog has had a rabbies shot?

[panader0]

6. The bite didn't cut my blue jeans, so I think I'm good.

[LisaL]

7. You just said it broke the skin, since you were bleeding.

[hlthe2b]

3. You are kind and understanding of the situation, which could have ended up with

the dog being branded a "vicious" dog. Assuming he has not bitten unprovoked before, the behavior, however undesirable (to say the least) was consistent with the dog protecting territory.

That said, the owner needs to pay for your pants and any medical care you might need and yes, of course provide proof of rabies vaccine. If they can NOT, you DO need to call animal control.

As a loving owner of a herding dog (Australian Shepherd-Border Collie who loves people so much that she'd let someone come in the front door in the wee hours of the morning as long as they came over to rub her belly), I know I don't have to worry about this. But I've had very kind, loving dogs in the past, who surely would have bitten to protect me. So, on behalf of all dogs that might NOT be given benefit-of-the doubt, I thank you.

Take care of your leg!

[left-of-center2012]

4. You should notify animal control

Next time that dog might bite a child,
and the bite could be worse.

[GallopingGhost]

9. This.

You should definitely report this, and get the bite checked out by a doctor, just to be safe.

[TexasBushwhacker]

21. I agree

My cousin's dog, Buddy, bit me without provocation. I had my back turned to him and was walking to the door. He sunk his teeth into my fat butt. They said he had never bitten anyone and I didn't report it.

Then one of her son's former teachers came by the house for a visit. Buddy bit the teacher. Still it was not reported.

Then he attacked their neighbor and it was really bad. They finally had him euthanized.

You cannot trust the owner to report the biting incident. You must do it yourself.

[htuttle]

5. Bite him back

You'd make the papers.

[NCjack]

8. How can you be sure you will be fine?

Get the dog's rabies vaccine number and veterinarian's tel number. Have your personal physician call the veterinarian to discuss the dog's health record. Finally, follow the treatment plan your physician provides to you.

[doc03]

10. Why do people own pit bulls, they are totally unpredictable

vicious animals? There was a guy that came to the mall every day with a pit bull. Dozens of times I stopped and talked to
the guy and petted the dog. One day I stopped and said hello and reached down to pet the dog and it lunged at me nearly grabbing my arm. Luckily the owner was able to hold the dog back. Never again I never went near it.

[uppityperson]

12. Good grief. Are you serious?

I've been bit by a st Bernard. And a fox terrier. And a Chihuahua. And a 20# mutt. For no reason than trying to pet them. I don't call all those breeds "unpredictable vicious" because, like short haired big headed muscly dogs, they aren't.

Claiming all pitties are "totally unpredictable vicious animals" is wildly inaccurate. Educate yourself.

[doc03]

14. Too many times they end up killing

the children in the family. A neighbor of mine in his 80s was attacked by two of them a few years ago and nearly killed over 200 stitches. He provoked them i guess walking a 1/4 mile from the owners home.

[uppityperson]

15. "too many times they end up killing the children in the family"?? When?

Any dog can bite. Larger dogs are capable of larger bites.

Several yrs ago Rottweilers were dubbed the evil vicious dogs, before the it was Dobermans, and German Shepherds.

A sibling had 2 rescue dogs who were turned over to animal control to be destroyed because 1 bit a neighbor. The one who bit him was a golden retriever cross, but she had to surrender the omgpitbull too even though that dog never left the property, because omgpitbull.

Any dog can bite, I've been bit by several. I've never "nearly killed 200 stitches", but knew a person in AK who was nearly killed by sled dogs (husky).

Pitties raised by assholes can be vicious, just like any other dog. In which case, blame the owner. But recognize the basic fact that all dogs can bite and no breed or body constitution has the market on being dangerous.

[kacekwl]

11. I got bit on the wrist about 6 weeks ago.

Went to doc in box where they cleaned it up gave me a tetnes shot. Warped me up and sent me on my way. I asked if I should take anti-biotics and doc told me dog bites seldom get infected. I was back the next day with a massive infection. Finally healed completely today. Have it looked at.

[CountAllVotes]

13. +1,000

Excellent advice!

Sounds like the skin was broken if there was that much blood. It could become infected.

I've been bit a few times, once by a stray cat and wowza, what a horrible infection I developed from that bite!

Everyone in the area I lived in was looking for that stray cat and he was sighted a few days later. Had he been rabid, he'd have died not long after I was bit I was told so I didn't have to get the rabies shots. I did get a tetanus shot.

Again, excellent advice!

[MiniMe]

20. Actually, I think that if it bled a lot, it may not get as infected

Bleeding "washes out" some of the bacteria, it is if it closes up right away that it can be more of a problem. Still worth having it checked by a doc

[3catwoman3]

16. The antibiotic Augmentin is often given for dog bites.

The urgent care center nearby says they refer to it as Dog-mentin.

[panader0]

17. I loathe hospitals and almost all doctors.

I went with Jeannie to an urgent care place for her foot a week or so ago.
I waited in the crowded waiting area and everyone was hacking. I had to go
outside. Hospitals make me feel like I can't breathe.

[Kali]

18. please make sure the dog was current on rabies vac

Cochise county is no place to fool around with animal bites - rabies is here in lots of animals.

[procon]

19. Be safe, get checked.

For what it's worth, I'm a retired RN and its not worth the risk to think you'll "be fine". There's nothing worse than an infected bite wound because the punctures trap all the nasties beneath the skin. Recovering from a bad infection will lay you out for many days. Go get treated. At the very least you should be on antibiotics and get a tetanus shot if you're not up to date.