Missouri Dog Bite Injury Attorney
Dog Bites Injuries - Skin Lacerations
Trauma to the skin from a dog attack is most often the result of a physical dog bite in which the teeth pierce the skin. With a larger dog, the powerful jaw muscles can actually result in a crushing injury to the tissue. With a dog bite the main mechanisms of injury are punctures and compressive forces. A puncture wound is the result of a small sharp object piercing the skin or in the case of a dog bite, multiple small sharp objects piercing the skin; the damage to the tissue is fairly limited in this situation. A compression injury, on the other hand, will cause more tissue destruction and as it is the result of the powerful jaw closing around the skin and compressing all the underlying structures.
Skin Injury Symptoms
Unlike more internal injuries, skin injury symptoms are obvious, involving both bleeding and pain. Nerve damage may also occur, depending on the severity of the laceration. Such nerve injury may result in decreased sensation and/or a "pins and needles" feeling. With any dog bite, treatment should be sought out immediately due to the high risk of infection. If left untreated, the skin can become red, swollen, inflamed, and the wound may weep yellow/green pus indicating a skin infection.
Treatment and Prognosis of Skin Lacerations
Immediate treatment of skin lacerations involves stopping or controlling any bleeding with clean bandages and applied pressure. If the victim is in a great deal of pain, medications, such as Percocet or Vicodin, may be given. Antibiotics will be given in the case of any animal bite due to the higher risk of infection. In addition, you may have to be given a Tetanus vaccine, depending on when received your last Tetanus shot; if it was within the last five years, it won't be necessary.
A dog bite injury is considered a "dirty" wound or laceration, meaning that the injury has introduced a substantial amount of debris and/or bacteria into the wound. After a thorough cleaning with copious saline or sterile water irrigation, the skin will be examined for any signs of damaged or dead tissue. Any dead tissue may be surgically removed to prevent infection. Due to a significant risk of infection, dirty wounds are never sutured closed; alternatively, wet dressings are applied on a daily basis, allowing the skin heals naturally.
The general prognosis for skin lacerations resulting from a dog is good; however, depending on the severity of injury caused by the dog bite and the method of treatment, scarring is a definite possibility. The immediate danger of a dog bite is infection, but, fortunately, with timely medical care, that can usually be prevented.
Legal Strength Working for You
The St. Louis dog bite injury lawyers at Page Law are committed to providing each and every client with the personal attention they need and deserve. In our many years of experience protecting the rights of those injured by another's negligence, we have the legal skills and knowledge to help our clients obtain compensation from negligent parties. For more information about how we can assist you with your specific case, call (314) 322-8515 for a free consultation.
