Hand injury from dog bite may result in cellulitis infection

It can be difficult to predict the actions of another person’s dog. There is no way to know how the dog is treated at home—making it difficult to determine how the dog will interact with other humans. Many people don’t think of this and are very surprised when a dog bites them.

A dog’s teeth are extremely sharp, as they are designed to rip and shred through muscle, skin, and tissue of other animals. When these sharp teeth come into contact with a human, the results can be devastating, causing severe or even fatal wounds and infection.

You May Be at Risk of Developing a Cellulitis Infection

Because of the combination of sharp teeth and bacteria in a dog’s mouth, the risk of infection is very high after a dog attack. One of the infections that a dog bite victim should be wary of is cellulitis. Cellulitis is an infection that involves the skin’s deep layers. The main bacteria that is involved with cellulitis is known as staphylococcus or staph.

Cellulitis Symptoms

Some of the common symptoms caused by cellulitis are:

  • Redness of the skin. The dog bite victim may notice redness of the skin at the area where the bite is located. There may also be red streaking or spots on the skin.
  • Swelling. The infected area may begin to swell as the body tries to fight off the infection.
  • Drainage. The infected area may leak a yellow fluid or pus.
  • Other symptoms. Other common symptoms that may be present include warm, inflamed, or painful skin in the area of the wound as well as fever and chills.

If you experience these symptoms of cellulitis, then it is important to see a doctor right away for a diagnosis and treatment plan.

Cellulitis Diagnosis and Treatment

In many cases, your doctor will be able to diagnose cellulitis by looking at your skin during a physical examination. In some cases, your doctor may order blood tests or other diagnostic tests to rule out different types of infections or conditions.

Once your doctor has diagnosed you with cellulitis, then treatment can begin. The first course of treatment is typically an oral antibiotic that you take at home. However, sometimes oral antibiotics are not strong enough to kill the infection and more intensive treatment may be required. Treatment could include intravenous antibiotics administered in the hospital.

How to Recover From a Cellulitis Dog Bite Infection

Without treatment, cellulitis can result in long-lasting health issues such as:

  • Damage to the lymph nodes
  • Chronic swelling
  • Blood infections
  • An infection in the deep layers of tissue known as necrotizing fasciitis. Necrotizing fasciitis is a medical emergency that could be life-threatening

If you have developed cellulitis or any other complication from a dog bite, you may be entitled to compensation. Our experienced dog bite lawyers will provide you with tough, aggressive, and compassionate representation throughout your claim.

Your recovery could include compensation for all of your expenses and injuries. This may include, but is not limited to, compensation for your past and future:

  • Medical expenses including doctors’ appointments, medications, hospital stays, wound care, and other health care costs
  • Lost income including any wages, benefits, or income from self-employment that you were unable to earn because of your dog bite injury
  • Out-of-pocket expenses made necessary because of your dog bite injury
  • Physical pain and emotional suffering that you experience because of your dog bite wound

Our lawyers will go above and beyond the call of duty to help you get the recovery that you deserve. We will negotiate with the dog owner’s insurance company and, if a fair settlement cannot be reached, then we will represent you in court.

Feel free to browse the articles posted on this site to learn more about dog bite injuries, lawsuits, and how we can help or call us today to schedule a free case evaluation.

Jason F. Abraham
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Helping car accident and personal injury victims throughout Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa since 1993.