Dog Bite

[Guest driser]

I did do a search first and didn't see any convos regarding dog bites.

 

Our neighbor got a purebred Shar Pei from shelter. My first thoughts were hmmmm, can be aggressive, aren't you curious WHY it was at shelter? Today, I think we learned why. He bit our Greyhound today.

 

Thankfully he was on a leash (not short enough) so it was over as fast as it happened. It was just a brief mouth-open blow to his shoulder. 99% of the marks (there are three points of contact; wide mouth on that square scrunch face) are quite superficial...more like abrasions than puncture, but there is a shallow 1/4" puncture. I shaved the areas so I could really clean them with cotton pads soaked with hydrogen peroxide and have applied antibiotic ointment a few times since this encounter.

 

Our county only has a one-bite law. If we can avoid an unnecessary bill and report of the incident, we'd prefer.

 

Would you think diligent home care and keeping an eye out for any sign of infection would suffice at this point? Or does he automatically need an oral antibiotic? We're conservative about such things as taking them for not can make them less effective when it really matters. True in humans and our beloved animals.

 

Appreciate input/opinions.

 

 

[Guest Greekgrey]

I'm glad your grey is okay. You might call the vet just to ask if they think he needs an antibiotic.

As for the other dog, if it bites once it will bite again. You need to report it. You don't want this to happen to someone else, especially a child.

I speak from experience. Our neighbor's dog bit our son three years ago, and since it was mostly a scratch we didn't report it. Then last year, she bit our daughter and it was very severe. Both instances were totally unprovoked. The 'opportunity' was strange children within her reach.

[Time4ANap]

The threads on this topic usually have the words attack, attacked, or aggressive in them. if you search those terms you will find those types of threads.

[macoduck]

Do not repeat the hydrogen peroxide. The 1/4" puncture might be worse than you think. You really need a vet to assess the risk of infection and get the right antibiotic.

You might also see bruising or bruise pooling down from the attack site.

 

If your vet asks how it happened, be truthful. If another attack happens would you be comfortable with that? Since the owner is your neighbor would you really feel safe near this dog? You could say do didn't report the bite to animal control but that the vet did.

[rschultz]

Don't vets have to legally report a bit?

[macoduck]

Don't vets have to legally report a bit?

I think that's generally the rule if a person gets bit.

[Guest MnMDogs]

Please check with your vet. We had a dog bite in the house and the vet prescribed abx. Puncture wounds/bites can be worse than they appear. Hope you're all doing ok.

[dmswartzfager]

I assume that since the dog was recently adopted from a shelter, the dog was current on its rabies vaccine?

[BatterseaBrindl]

Get your dog checked by a vet and please report the incident to the proper authorities.

Don't wait for him to do it to someone else....

[cleptogrey]

please report it, talk to your vet.

[GeorgeofNE]

Take the dog to the vet. Give the bill to the owners of the Shar Pei.

 

My dog is other breed aggressive. It is easily handled. He loves all people. Just because this dog bit your dog doesn't mean he's going to maul a child--I'd leave it up to the new owner to deal with myself.

[PatricksMom]

Particularly with a puncture, I'd have it looked at, your vet may want to prescribe an antibiotic.

[juliemac]

How's your greyhound doing today?

[Greydawg]

I don't think it is true that if a dog bites once, it will be apt to bite again.

 

Five years ago, our foster dog Alex bit me. (I take the blame - he was new to us, and I hadn't built his trust - I stupidly played around and took a rawhide out of his mouth.) We ended up adopting him. He has never shown further signs of aggression and in fact, he has a wonderful personality.

 

It could be that the neighbors new dog is stressed with its new environment and will settle in as soon as its new owners establish a solid routine. I'll bet the owners are pretty upset about their dog biting your dog and have learned a valuable lesson about being diligent when around other dogs. Especially at the beginning of their relationship.

 

I hope your dog is on the mend.