People typically view dogs as friendly and even helpful. Most dogs are happy to interact with humans. A small minority of dogs may have prior trauma that makes them anxious around humans. Others may have mental defects because of inbreeding.
Dogs occasionally bite and injure humans. Most people expect dog bites to be relatively minor injuries. However, they can cause an assortment of serious medical complications. For example, the following medical consequences sometimes follow a dog bite incident.
Significant infections
Technically, a dog’s mouth is usually cleaner than a human’s mouth. However, there are still pathogens present in a dog’s mouth, including bacteria. Additionally, the tapered shape and length of a dog’s teeth make them potential sources of infection. Dog bite wounds can be very difficult for people to clean in a home setting. Without proper medical support, those who sustain a dog bite could be at risk of an infection. If allowed to develop, a dog bite infection could trigger significant medical challenges that may require treatment and even time away from work.
Disfiguring scars
Dog bites frequently involve the lower extremities or hands. Dogs bite the closest body part they can reach. People instinctively try to shield themselves, making their hands vulnerable. When a person was seated at the time of the incident or the victim is a child, a dog bite attack could potentially cause injuries to the face and neck. Those injuries may ultimately lead to disfiguring scars, especially among young children who do not receive adequate medical treatment initially. Disfiguring scars can affect various aspects of an individual’s life. Scars can affect mental health and self-esteem. They can reduce earning potential and impact social relationships. Disfiguring scars caused by dog bite attacks can be very expensive in the long run.
Broken bones
Many dogs do not simply snap their mouths at people. They also lunge when they bite. Their aggressive motions may knock people to the ground. Older adults and children are particularly vulnerable to fractures when knocked to the ground by a dog. People can break bones trying to stop a fall during a dog bite attack. In some cases involving large, aggressive breeds with powerful jaws, the dog bite on its own might be sufficiently powerful to break a bone in the human body. Fractures generally require eight weeks or more of rest to ensure recovery. People often incur thousands of dollars in medical treatment costs for fractures and may also lose out on wages.
A dog’s owner may be liable for the medical expenses and lost income triggered by dog bite injuries. Recognizing the potential impact of a dog bite injury could help people assert themselves when a companion animal turns vicious.