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Dealing with Dog on Dog BitesHarvey Caruthers |
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| Harvey
Caruthers looks at how to treat the various kinds of dog bites
associated with different types of attack |
Head Wounds
Serious head injury can result when dogs of similar size fight, or when dogs are equally aggressive. The lips, mouth, nose and ears are often bitten. Several puncture wounds may result, usually caused by the canine teeth. These teeth cause puncture wounds and crush the tissue around the wound. As a result, injuries tend to be small but painful and tend to get infected.
Neck Bites
On occassion, one dog will pin the other down by the throat or a smaller dog will attach itself to a larger dog's neck. The resulting wounds can be fatal if an animals windpipe or large blood vessels in the neck are damaged. The incisors, canines and molar teeth may all be employed in these attacks, with wounds varying from small punctures to shredded and torn skin.
Flank Attacks
Flank bites occur when one dog rushes at another and bites unexpectedly with its incisors and canines. Such attacks often result in lacerations as a loose flap of skin becomes detached from the underlying muscle. Dogs can seem unconcerned by these wounds and they may cause little pain. They should be flushed generously with water and if they are not infected thay can often be stitched up soon after injury.
Back Leg Injuries
If an aggressive dog attacks when a dog is running away, bites often occur round the thighs and base of the tail. In this instance, the incisor teeth cause lacerations and deep muscle wounds can result. These wounds can be painful due to bruising and the damage caused when the skin is ripped from the thigh muscle. These wounds can bleed heavily if the muscle is badly damaged.
reprinted with kind permission
from Alastair Balmain
Deputy Editor:Shooting Times & Country Magazine
Blue Fin Building, 110 Southwark Street SE1 0SU
Tel: 020 3148 4750
Deputy Editor:Shooting Times & Country Magazine
Blue Fin Building, 110 Southwark Street SE1 0SU
Tel: 020 3148 4750