Diseases From Dog Bites
There are some illnesses that can be passed through dog saliva from a bite, but these are generally far more dangerous for other dogs than for people. Any dog bite on an animal or a person needs prompt medical attention. It needs to be cleaned, disinfected, bandaged and monitored for any swelling or infection. Any strange, sudden symptom after a dog bite may mean infection.
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Rabies
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The most deadly disease to both animals and humans that can be caught from a dog bite is rabies. The dog has to already be infected with rabies for another to catch it.
Pasteurellosis
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Even healthy dogs have the bacteria called pasteurella in their saliva. When injected into an animal or human's body by a bite, sometimes it causes infection within 24 hours of the bite. Symptoms include pain, swelling and the skin around the bite becoming red, vomiting and headache.
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Staph Infections
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This can happen to animals or humans. Streptococcal and staphylococcal bacteria that live normally on the skin is harmless until the skin breaks, causing fever, swelling, pain at the bite site and severe headache.
Capnocytophaga
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Also called septicemia or blood poisoning. This develops only in people with immunity problems, usually with diabetes, arthritis, psoriasis or AIDS.
Misconceptions
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Contrary to popular belief, you cannot catch Lyme disease from a dog bite. That disease is caused by tick bites.
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Resources
- Photo Credit This dog in the US Air Force is trained to attack a dummy.
