What to Do if You are Attacked by a Guard Dog

Updated on April 20, 2021

Accidents happen. If you work in a job that requires you to enter different properties, such as delivering mail, you may be faced with varying modes of security set up by the property owner. Some people may use guard dogs to protect their property, and if the animal is not appropriately trained or under adequate control, they may become aggressive. If a guard dog has attacked you, here are some tips on what you should do.

Protect Yourself

Try to remain calm when a dog is about to attack you – do not become aggressive and kick or yell at the dog as this will only make it worse. An angry dog wants to scare and stress you out, so if you try to remain as calm as possible, it will confuse and bore the dog and slow down its aggression. Do not make eye contact with the dog and stand side-on to it to turn yourself into a smaller target. If the dog knocks you to the ground, curl up into a ball while resting on your knees. Clasp your hands behind you to protect your head and neck.

The Legal Stuff

Take a note of the dog owner’s name, their address, whether or not the dog is insured, if it is up to date with vaccinations, and if it has attacked like this before. Suppose you have medical expenses, psychological damage, loss of income, or damage to clothes and equipment due to the dog attack. In that case, you may be able to make a claim through an attorney who deals with dog bite claims, such as Denmon Pearlman Accident Injury Lawyers. If there are any witnesses to the attack, ask for their contact details. Take photographs of your injuries as proof to help with your claim. Report the attack to the police.

Treat the Injury

Place a clean piece of fabric over the bite wounds and keep the area elevated until you are able to get to a place where you can wash the affected area with mild soap and warm water. Cover the bite with a sterile bandage and visit a doctor as soon as you can. Dog bites can become easily infected and require antibiotics or a tetanus shot

Watch Out for Infection

When the skin becomes punctured from a dog bite, the bacteria from the dog’s mouth will enter the cut and cause infection if the wound is not cleaned and treated correctly. An infected dog bite is red, swollen, warm to the touch, and may ooze pus. If the infection spreads through your body, you may experience fever, shaking, and night sweats. 

See a doctor immediately if the bite is very deep, you feel unwell, and the wound is showing signs of infection. The doctor will check for damage to nerves, bones, and muscles and stitch any areas needing it. If the dog hasn’t been vaccinated, you may have to receive a post-exposure rabies vaccination as untreated rabies is fatal to humans.

The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.