It’s just a small bite, do I go to a doctor? © Copyright 2016 Holidays4Dogs | Web Design by. Even here in Canada hospitals are required by law to report dog bites, I know I got bitten. The dog bit the face because that was the part closest to it, it did not leap six feet in the air to bite your husband's face (Uncle Matty is a wee bit behind the times), bypassing hands and feet in the process, it is not significant that the dog bit your husband's face in terms of the dog's behaviour (but is likely significant to your husband! You can report a dangerous dog to your council’s dog warden service.. You can also report dog fouling to your local council. Of course, nobody wants to live with an aggressive dog, or risk their pet dog biting a member of the family, let alone a stranger and dog bites can often be avoided if the correct management techniques and appropriate supervision are put in place. Dogs and Facemasks – Is Your Dog Worried. If your dog has a past history of being aggressive or you are concerned at all about your dog’s behaviour – don’t let this get worse – seek the help of a qualified trainer or behaviourist to evaluate your dog and suggest an appropriate way of training or management. Serious infections such as tetanus and rabies are extremely rare in the UK, but it's important to get serious bites looked at as treatment to prevent these infections may be recommended. However, any dog is capable of biting no what their breed, shape or size. The history is usually obvious; clinically there is cellulitis with associated lymphangitis. Statistics do suggest that most dog bites are from the family pet and the number one culprit in terms of breed is, surprisingly, the Labrador retriever according to a report compiled by pet insurers Animal Friends in 2016. Typically, the hand is injuried during a defensive motion. Victims of dog bites should always report the situation to the proper authorities, because it documents the case, as well as researches the health of the dog, if possible. Anyone can report a dog and their owner to the police. Serious animal and human bites can get infected if they're not checked and treated quickly. Rushed through Parliament following a number of high profile dog bite related deaths. In Delaware, dog bites are reported to the Division of Public Health while in New Jersey dog bites are reported to the police and local animal control agencies. Once popular dog breeds, you rarely see anymore in the UK. While hospital admissions for injuries caused by dogs are up 7 6 per cent in the last ten years, the actual number of dog bites requiring hospital treatment is relatively low compared to the approximate 10 million dogs living in British households. But you can send us an email and we'll get back to you, asap. Page last reviewed: 11 January 2019 The actual number of dog bite cases is probably much higher, as minor injuries aren’t always reported or treated by professionals. Do not rely on the report that the hospital personnel may or may not have made. Then they'll thoroughly clean the wound to remove any dirt or bacteria, and dead tissue. If a dog poses an immediate threat to the safety of the public, the police or other responsible person (e.g. We're not around right now. Since new amendments were introduced in 2014 to the Dangerous Dog’s Act 1991, it is now an offence for a person’s dog to be dangerously out of control on private as well as public property. ... FamilyDoctor.org: "Cat and Dog Bites." Minor bites can be treated at your GP surgery, or by staff at your local walk-in centre or minor injuries unit. Crucially, it is also important to understand that your dog does not even have to bite – if someone just feels threatened by the behaviour of your dog, you could be prosecuted under the DDA. Do you know how many dog bite cases there are in the United States each year? The Health Department will do a follow up and the dogs records will be checked and the dog will have to quarantined for 10 days in your yard and cannot be left unsupervised. The website also provides detailed information on state dog bite … Although strays or other strange dogs can bite, most of the time people are actually bitten by a dog they know, which could be a friend's dog or even the family pet. For particularly severe bites, visit your local A&E department. Since 2005, 17 people have been killed by dogs. It should be pointed out that while every possible care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of this article, it is for information purposes only and cannot be regarded as legal advice. Holidays4Dogs asks you to accept cookies. Statistics do suggest that most dog bites are from the family pet and the number one culprit in terms of breed is, surprisingly, the Labrador retriever according to a report compiled by pet insurers Animal Friends in 2016. Laws vary from state to state but report any dog bite no matter what. The reason for reporting a dog bite is to create documentation should a dog exhibit dangerous behavior. If the bite has broken the skin, you should seek immediate medical attention after cleaning the wound. If you have been bitten by an animal or another person: If the bite has severed a body part like a finger or ear, wash it with tap water, wrap it in clean tissue, and store it in a plastic bag surrounded by ice so it can be transported to hospital. Common Farm, Arglam Lane, Here’s some help and first aid advice for what to do with dog bites in these situations. It will introduce tougher laws to tackle the threat of dangerous dogs following the failure of previous legislation to do so. If, as an owner, you find yourself affected by any of the above dog laws it is advisable to seek advice immediately. Alarmingly, over the last ten years there have been 21 fatalities which have included 13 children or babies. When abroad, take seriously even the tiniest of dog bites, or a lick from a dog over a cut or wound. Symptoms that suggest a wound has become infected include: Get medical help as soon as possible if you think your wound is infected. But keep in mind that if an insured individual fails to report the incident to his agent in a timely fashion, he may later be unable to receive reimbursement or even make a belated claim. You should have a doctor evaluate your bite, even a minor one, because of the high risk of infection with puncture wounds from a dog. But an animal is more likely to bite if it's been disturbed, feels threatened or gets overexcited. You can opt-out if you wish. Share Print . It may be possible to surgically reattach the body part later on. The Law Relating to Dog Bites. Holidays4Dogs provides some information regarding the law on dog bites in the UK and some general suggestions on how to avoid this distressing situation. An important point to note is that children are the most likely people to be bitten by a dog and the most likely culprit is the household pet. Trying to decipher when a person is liable for their dog’s actions can be hard to understand. The following information is about bites by people and animals such as dogs and cats. Unfortunately, that often doesn’t happen in a timely manner so file a report yourself as soon as you can. Almost five million Americans are bitten by dogs each year, and those are just the reported incidents. Karen The advice below may help reduce the chances of being bitten: It's also a good idea to avoid contact with any wild or stray animals, particularly while travelling abroad, as they can be aggressive and there's a chance they could carry serious infections, such as rabies. Four years ago I was bitten by a dog when I was on my holidays in the Ukraine. The lad it seems just appeared and started hanging over the fence while the man who owns the dog was walking back up with his watering can - the incident had happened before the chap could call to the lad or his dog. To prevent dog bites: When choosing a dog … Owned. Make certain that the dog is up to date on vaccines, especially rabies. In public places it is wise not to allow your dog to run around off lead, running up to people and other dogs, barking or jumping up as you could be accused of having a ‘dangerously out of control dog’. Call a doctor if: Bleeding doesn’t stop after 15 minutes of pressure. More info: https://www.facebook.com/doglawsolicitors/, Holidays4Dogs Head Office, You may know that doctors are required to report dog bites, but your doctor may decide to skip a step, which is why it is imperative that you have a dog bite attorney … General Information. A child understands less about how to read the body language and cues that dog’s make; this is why it is vitally important to always supervise when dogs and children are together. The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, in particular, is a notoriously poor piece of legislation. The owner still walks the dog 50ft from my home! Report an Animal Bite. The police do not have the power to enforce a control order or prosecute the owner. Do you accept these cookies and the processing of personal data involved? Sharon, Northants. But what if your dog bites someone, either while out walking or at home? Animal bites are usually from dogs and cats in the United Kingdom. The bite has broken the skin. Do not delay seeking help until symptoms of infection appear. People and animals have a lot of bacteria in their mouths, which can cause an infection if a bite breaks the skin. Osteomyelitis, tendon and joint injury also may occur. However, since this is the UK’s most popular breed of pet dog, then it follows that there is more likelihood of Labradors being responsible for a high percentage of dog bites. To get more information about these cookies and the processing of your personal data press ‘more information’. Whilst we don't think the Dangerous Dogs Act (particularly Section 1 which applies breed-specific legislation) is effective in reducing dog bites, we do believe that all dog owners should be responsible for their dogs behaviour around people, other dogs and other animals. Is there a "law" regarding dog bites the lads parents have reported the dog. Animals can act unpredictably and bites are not always provoked. Children are also more likely than adults to be injured by a dog bite. It is a criminal offence for the person in charge of the dog to allow it to be 'dangerously out of control' anywhere in England and Wales whether or not a public place. That has now changed; so if your dog bites a tradesman or delivery person, you could face prosecution. There are separate pages on insect bites and snake bites. This is particularly true for young children and elderly people, where an attack by a dog can be particularly serious. Although you may be more worried about bites from wild and stray animals, any animal has the potential to bite. Severe bites often require calling 911 or receiving other emergency medical attention. I was prescribed antibiotics, but it was not successful. Dog bites: Dogs are valued members of families around the UK. At present the UK is free from rabies. Statistics for dog bite occurrences in the UK are murky and not easily interpreted. Close menu. In some (most?) They can also happen during contact sports, vigorous sex, domestic violence or sexual assault, and fits (seizures). His website provides a wealth of information for dog bite victims, attorneys, dog owners, landlords and parents. Contact a doctor right away, or seek emergency treatment. These infections are rarely serious if treated quickly, but occasionally they can spread to the blood or other parts of the body. If needed, treatment straight after a bite … as well as public property. Dog bite laws vary by state and often are confusing combinations of the "one bite" rule and county ordinances, state law, and case law. When to See a Doctor for a Dog Bite. It is no surprise that children are more commonly bitten since a dog will usually only resort to biting because of a breakdown in communication. You must report any type of animal bite within 24 hours of the event. Provoked or not, dog bites are often painful and have the potential to become quite dangerous if not appropriately treated. Next review due: 11 January 2022, the Blue Dog website provides educational resources, clean the wound immediately by running warm tap water over it for a couple of minutes – it's a good idea to do this even if the skin does not appear to be broken, remove any objects from the bite, such as teeth, hair or dirt, encourage the wound to bleed slightly by gently squeezing it, unless it's already bleeding freely, if the wound is bleeding heavily, put a clean pad or sterile dressing over it and apply pressure, dry the wound and cover it with a clean dressing or plaster, take painkillers if you're in pain, such as, seek medical advice, unless the wound is very minor, clean the wound and remove any damaged tissue, recommend specific treatment to prevent infections such as tetanus if you're felt to be at risk, close the wound with stitches if the risk of infection is thought to be low – high-risk wounds will usually be left open as this means they're easier to keep clean, refer you for an assessment by a specialist if the bite penetrated a joint or there's severe damage, such as damage to bones or nerves – surgery may be needed in these cases, the wound feels warm and increasingly painful, red streaks extending along the skin from the wound, never leave a young child unsupervised with a dog – regardless of what type of dog it is and its previous behaviour (, treat dogs with respect – do not approach them suddenly, run around screaming in their presence, or interrupt them when they're eating or sleeping, avoid stroking or petting unfamiliar dogs – when greeting a dog for the first time, let it sniff you before petting it. In other words, their reports are used for the purpose of counting the number of dog bites, keeping track of possible outbreaks of … Consult with the owner's veterinarian. Report an Animal Bite. Their reports usually are for medical purposes not pertaining to civil or criminal liability. The healthcare professional treating you may: When you return home, watch out for signs of a possible infection. If your dog bites someone and you notify your insurance agent right away, he can advise you of any policy-related time limitations. But you don’t have to do it alone. The law is not clear cut when it comes to intruders, so make sure you cannot be accused of ‘setting’ your dog on to an intruder as, equally, you could be prosecuted. It is estimated that in 2015 in the UK, there were some seven thousand admissions into hospital for dog bites and strikes each year and the figures were predicted to rise further. Serious animal and human bites can get infected if they're not checked and treated quickly. Most human bites occur when one person punches another person in the mouth. How will the doctor treat a dog bite? Date of Bite * Animal Species * Animal Ownership. Dog’s mouths have a variety of bacteria that should be cleaned from the wound. If not to your dog, then to other dogs, and that dog could possibly kill them. After that I came back to the UK and went to see a doctor. Always seek medical advice if you have been bitten by an animal or person and the bite has broken the skin. Hull, East Yorkshire & North Lincolnshire, https://www.facebook.com/doglawsolicitors/. People and animals have a lot of bacteria in their mouths, which can cause an infection if a bite breaks the skin. A doctor will be able to sanitize and clean the wound as well as establish the extent of the damage done by the bite. Call 911 and seek emergency medical care if the victim is bleeding profusely from multiple wounds. 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