Help! Advice re bite

[permaquandry]

Just brushing my 6 month old pup, she was gnawing on the handle when I got distracted, went to retrieve it and my finger got stuck between her teeth and the brush head as she bit down.

I now have a puncture wound, which is bleeding, I'm not sure if it was caused by a bristle or her teeth.

I have rinsed it out and put some Germolene on.

Do I need to get a tetanus or anti-bs or something? My head says don't worry, but I'm not 100% sure. She's just got back from an over-night stay in kennels but she was separated from all other dogs.

Grateful for any advice.

Ouch! Puppy teeth are sharp! If you haven't had a tetanus shot in the last ten years, then it's a good reminder to go and get one.

Assuming it's just a small wound and you have had tetanus, I would keep it clean and keep an eye on it. If there's any sign of infection, go straight to a doctor - if you get a fever, there's pus, it becomes red and swollen - or if you get red lines radiating up your arm from it - that means you need anti-bs straight away.

If it's more than a small wound then it's worth letting someone else clean it up and have a look at it in case you need antibiotics. I'm not a doctor, but here's what the NHS says: www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Bites-human-and-animal/Pages/Symptoms.aspx

Dr Ian Dunbar has some good advice on teaching dog bite suppression to puppies. It's here if you'd like to read it. You have to sign in to read it these days but it is well worth a look.

Actually if you click through on that NHS link it tells you when they recommend antibiotics so I would go by that!

I assume you're in the UK and therefore don't need to worry about rabies.

Hope it's better soon!

advice to me from minor injuries unit was that if born after 1961 you wouldnt need tetanus booster. but they did give me anti biotics. I had a puncture from an adult dog.

I was accidently bitten on my nose years ago by our Dachshund, < DH laughed> and next day it swelled up and went to GP who gave me a Tetanus jab. Had to go a few weeks later for the follow up jab.

Well, I took the advice from OoO docs and trundled off to a&e where a triage nurse assessed and said not a puncture wound, just superficial so no need for antib and, due to my age and origin, I will be up-to-date with tetanus.

Also, as she's my dog and just a pup, even less of a worry.

I apologised for wasting her time!

Thx for the replies. Will look at the link re biting suppression, thx!

Glad you are okay!