Whether you are just looking for company at home or a service dog that can help you gain some degree of independence, there are a variety of reasons why you might want to own a dog. However, when they become aggressive, canines can be dangerous.
Apart from lacerations and disfigurement, a dog attack can lead to serious infections. Left untreated, some of these infections can drastically impact your health and life.
Here are three types of infections that you need to look out for after a dog attack.
Pasteurellosis
Bacterium Pasteurella multocida lives in the mouths of most dogs and cats. This bacterium causes a potentially serious skin infection known as pasteurellosis. Initial infection symptoms usually appear within 12 to 24 hours after the attack. Left untreated, the infection can spread to the bones, muscles and tendons resulting in long-term complications.
Rabies
This is, perhaps, the most common infection that is associated with dog bites. In fact, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that rabies claims around 59,000 lives worldwide each year, with close to 99 percent of these resulting from dog bites.
Rabies is caused by a lyssavirus (a type of virus that attacks the central nervous system). Some of the symptoms of rabies infection may include fever, headaches, tingling around the wound, seizures and confusion and sensitivity to sound, light and touch.
Capnocytophaga
This rare dog bite-related infection is caused by Capnocytophaga canimorsus bacteria. Symptoms of an infection may include fever, headache, nausea, joint pains and diarrhea. Left untreated, the patient may develop complications like gangrene, kidney failure and cardiac arrest.
Even the gentlest of dogs can attack and cause serious injuries when provoked, harmed or simply overexcited. If you are a victim of a dog attack, you may need to pursue a premises liability lawsuit against the dog owner so you can receive the compensation you deserve for your damages.
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