Dogs are wonderful companions. However, even the gentlest of these fluffy canines can cause serious injuries when frightened, provoked or overexcited. No matter the size of the dog, a bite can leave you with serious physical injuries. If you are a victim of a preventable dog attack, you may be able to pursue the dog owner for damages through a premises liability claim.
But a dog bite can leave you with more than just physical injuries. These attacks also can leave you with a variety of infections. While some dog bite infections are easily treatable with prescription antibiotics, others can result in serious complications that may cost thousands of dollars to treat.
Understanding the infections that you can contract following a dog bite
At the very basic, an infection occurs when a disease-causing pathogen enters your body. In the case of dog bites, these pathogens are commonly transmitted through the animals’ saliva. Here are some of the infections you need to look out for after a dog attack:
- Capnocytophaga: This is a rare yet one of the most dangerous infections you can contract following a dog attack. According to CDC, the Capnocytophaga bacterium can cause serious health complications such as kidney failure, cardiac arrest and gangrene. It can also lead to amputation of the fingers and toes in some people.
- Capnocytophaga symptoms often begin to manifest 3 to 5 days after the attack. These symptoms can include swelling, redness and pain around the bite wound, headache, fever, muscle and joint pains and diarrhea and vomiting.
- Pasteurellosis: Caused by the bacterium Pasteurella multocida, Pasteurellosis is more common than Capnocytophaga. However, it is less severe and is often characterized by the following symptoms:
- Breathing difficulty
- Discharge and swelling around the bite wound
- Pain and tenderness at the bite wound
Pursuing dog bite damages
If you are attacked and hurt by someone’s dog, you need to seek treatment as soon as possible. Next, you need to pursue the dog owner for compensation for the resulting medical costs and other losses.