A dog bit your child. A team of specialists that may have included a plastic surgeon and orthopedist (bone specialist) cared for your child while they were in the hospital. Since getting bitten by a dog can be very upsetting, a psychologist, therapist, social worker, or other mental health specialist may have talked to your child. 

You can now care for your child at home. They will need your support as they recover. It's important to follow your health care provider's instructions so that the wounds continue to heal and don't get infected.

To help prevent infection:

• Follow any specific instructions given to you by your health care provider for keeping the wound clean. 
• Give your child any antibiotics and use any ointments as recommended by your health care provider. 
• Check the wound at least once a day for signs of infection, such as swelling, warmth, soreness, and pus (yellow drainage).

Follow your health care provider's instructions for:

• Whether you should cover the wound (for example with gauze or a bandage) after washing.
• Whether to cover the wound while taking a bath or showering.
• Any activities to avoid.
• When your child can return to school and other activities.
• Giving your child medicine for pain, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol^® or a store brand) or ibuprofen (Advil^®, Motrin^®, or a store brand). Follow the directions on the label for how much to give and how often. Don't give ibuprofen to babies under 6 months old.
• When to follow up.

Your child:

• Gets a fever
• Has worsening redness or swelling of the wound
• Develops swollen lymph nodes (glands)
• Develops warmth, red streaks, or drainage of pus from the wound

You know your child best. If your child has symptoms that worry you or seems very sick, call your health care provider.

Your child is:

• In severe pain
• Very sleepy and difficult to awaken

What problems can happen from a dog bite? Dog bites can cause scarring, and sometimes the germs that dogs have in their mouth can lead to infection. Your child may have had stitches and/or a skin graft (where healthy skin is taken from one part of the body to cover or replace damaged skin) to help the wounds heal and lessen scarring. They were also given antibiotics to prevent or treat an infection.

Rarely dog bites can lead to serious illnesses such as rabies or tetanus. If needed, your health care provider started treatment for rabies and gave your child a tetanus shot. 

What else should I know about dog bites? After a child is bitten by a dog, they may be very afraid of dogs and want to avoid them, have nightmares, or show other signs of stress. If you had to put your pet down or send them to live somewhere else, your child also might be dealing with feelings of sadness and loss. Talking to a mental health provider can help your child cope with these feelings.

How can we prevent dog bites? To avoid dog bites, teach your child to:

• Handle pets gently and not tease them. 
• Never disturb a dog while it is eating, sleeping, or caring for its puppies. 
• Always ask if it is OK to touch someone else's dog. Show your child how to let the dog see and sniff them before touching it. 

If you own a pet, make sure it's up to date on all shots.