Dogs are commonly referred to as “man’s best friend,” and this shows in how popular they are. Over 60 million households in America have a dog as part of the family.
Our strong bond with dogs often leads us to forget that they are animals at the end of the day. This means that they respond to situations differently than us. A dog bite is not only extremely painful, but it can be dangerous and leave lasting injuries on victims.
Permanent scarring
Dogs clamp down with tremendous force, and their teeth also tend to be very sharp. This means that their bites can wound deeply, breaking the skin and even bone sometimes. Such deep injuries can require an extensive recovery period that may include surgery and physical therapy. In the most severe cases, scarring may be permanent which can have a lasting impact, especially if it is in a key area such as the limbs or in a visually prominent location like the face.
Infections
The teeth and mouths of canines carry a host of bacteria. If they bite, this bacteria can be transferred to the person. This makes the risk of infection high, and it is important to have this addressed medically as soon as possible if you have been bitten.
The psychological impact
It is easy to focus on the physical effects of dog bites while neglecting the emotional toll that they take. We’ve all seen images of aggressive guard dogs in movies, and these images are hard to shake. While aggressive dogs are rare and many dogs are stereotyped, there is a minority out there, and they can be dangerous and scary animals. Many victims of dog attacks never forget the incident and could even suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
If you have been attacked by a dog, it is vital that you get the medical help you need. You should also consider looking into your legal rights in terms of compensation to assist with your recovery.