There are several factors that determine whether a person should seek medical attention after a Wisconsin dog bite. Our Wausau injury attorneys suggest seeking medical attention if any of the following conditions apply:
- The person who was bitten is a child.
- The skin is broken.
- There is pain at or near the location of the bite. This indicates that structures under the skin may be damaged. Serious injuries are possible even if the skin is not broken.
- The dog is a stray, or the owner of the dog cannot be found.
- The dog has not been vaccinated for rabies or the dog’s vaccination status is unknown.
- It has been more than ten years since your last booster shot.
The doctor will clean the wound and, if needed, will treat the damage to the skin and the underlying muscle, nerve or bone. If appropriate, he will prescribe an antibiotic to prevent infection and administer tetanus and rabies vaccines. He will write referrals to specialists who can provide further treatment.
If the skin is not disturbed and there is no lasting pain at the site, wash the wound thoroughly. If you choose not to seek medical attention, watch for signs of infection, including: redness, warmth, pain, swelling, discoloration, or drainage of fluid. If there are any signs of infection, call the doctor right away.
A dog bite is a serious injury. When in doubt get medical attention.
Worried about paying your medical bills? The personal injury lawyers at Hupy and Abraham help victims of dog bites in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Iowa get fair compensation for their medical bills, pain and suffering, and other losses related to the dog bite. The dog bite is not your fault and you shouldn’t have to pay. To learn more, contact Hupy and Abraham at 800-800-5678.
