There is rarely a week that goes by that I do not receive a phone call concerning a dog biting a child, neighbor, or another pet. It is also a normal occurrence during the week, for yours truly, to be scratched or have near misses with bites. So what happens when the veterinarian gets bit? Well, this was the week for me. After 34 years, a dog patient, without warning, went for my face. Lucky for me, it missed my eye. Sadly, it did not miss the upper left side of my face. The front team cancelled the remaining appointments, and I went to the plastic surgeon. Many prolene sutures later, the doctor’s skilled hands brought things together. AND, I, like so many of my patients, have been vaccinated for Rabies.
Why do I share this with you? Unfortunately, every day this is a risk for any dog owner or individuals that work with animals. This is the reason it is recommended that team members, when possible, hold animals in the office during the examination. Dog bites are 90% of all bite injuries reported. Over 4.5 million dog bites occur each year in the United States, with a minimum of 20% needing physician attention and 30,000 requiring reconstructive /plastic surgery. Note: With 75 million dogs in the United States, the CDC feels large percentages of bites are under reported. Children between the ages of 5 and 9 are more commonly involved.
WHAT IS THE PROTOCOL AFTER A DOG BITES A PERSON? Once there has been a puncture of the skin, BY NORTH CAROLINA PUBLIC HEALTH LAW and animal control guidelines, a local animal control officer must be contacted within 24 hours if medical attention is sought (physician, emergency room).
HOW IS THE CARY POLICE DEPARTMENT OR ANIMAL CONTROL INVOLVED? In the event of a bite at our hospital, the officer comes to take a case report, find out the address of the pet owner, and see if immunization is current. In the event the owner lives in the county, Wake County Animal Control or the sheriff’s office will be referred the case.
IS THERE MORE CONCERN ABOUT SECONDARY INFECTION OR RABIES? In all cases, there is a risk of secondary bacterial infection and a need for antibiotics is often necessary as the mouths of dogs are dirty (contrary to an old wives tale). Rabies status (current depending on the age and when last administered) can have significant bearing on the case. In my case, the patient was past due by 4 months but had received a rabies immunization as a puppy and one year later.
WILL THE DOG HAVE TO GO TO AN APPROVE QUARANTINE AREA? That will depend on the animal control officer under guidance of the local health director assigned the case. NCGS 130A-196 requires a 10 day quarantine period with proper restraint, observation, and confinement. The local health director is responsible for designating the place of confinement, which could be a veterinarian’s office, a public or private animal shelter, or even the owner’s property. Regardless of where the animal is confined, the owner is responsible for any costs related to the confinement. An owner who fails to confine the animal as required by the health director will be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor. Questions that may be asked include: Was it a provoked bite or unprovoked (no warning)? Or, is there a history of reported bites by the pet in the past?
WHY THE 10 DAY QUARANTINE PERIOD IN PREVIOUSLY VACCINATED ANIMALS? This is the time period health officials determine if the animal is at risk for the shedding/passing of Rabies in the saliva. If there are no neurological signs, then the pet is released from quarantine.
Dr. Betsy Sigmon, Diplomate American Board of Veterinary Practitioners
Creature Comforts Animal Hospital
Cary, NC
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