Personal Injury | December 27, 2021 by JOSHUA D. ANDERSON

Infections and Diseases from Dog Bites

Human beings and dogs have had a symbiotic relationship since dogs were domesticated ages ago. However, as loyal, loving, and kind as dogs can be, they can also be dangerous when their animal instinct is turned on or when they were not raised properly.

 

Reports indicate that there were 46 dog bite-related fatalities in the U.S. in 2020 and many additional dog bite-related injuries. Pit bulls were the most reportedly dangerous breed and the leading cause of those deaths, as they contributed to 72% of those deaths. However, any breed of dog can turn vicious and attack.

 

While you might first think of lacerations and traumatic physical injuries, dog bites can also result in serious infections and diseases that can impact your health and your future in costly ways.

 

At Anderson Law, our Bonney Lake, WA dog bite injury lawyers routinely help clients who have been injured by dog bites, and if you or your loved one is the victim of a dog attack, we can help determine how to obtain full compensation for your injuries.

Infection Injuries from Dog Bites

 

Some of the most concerning harm from dog bites are the infections that usually develop within or around the injury area. When a dog bites, it often punctures the victim’s skin and creates a wound through which bacteria is directly injected into the victim’s body tissue. Some of the worst infections that come from dog bites include the following.

Capnocytophaga

 

Though rare, the bacteria that causes this equally rare but potentially deadly infection lives and grows in the mouths of dogs and cats. Although these germs do not make the animal sick, they can cause serious infection in humans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This is especially the case for people with compromised or weakened immune systems.

Sepsis

 

Sepsis happens when one’s body responds too aggressively to an infection. Under normal circumstances, the body secretes just the right amount of certain chemicals into the bloodstream to combat infection when an injury occurs. However, when the body over-reacts and sends an excessive amount of these chemicals into the bloodstream, sepsis can occur.

 

This excessive chemical injection into the bloodstream can begin to damage other internal systems, including the organs. Sepsis and related septic shock can happen to anyone, but the condition is especially dangerous to older people, pregnant women, infants under one year, and individuals with chronic conditions such as diabetes, kidney or lung disease, or cancer.

Rabies

 

Rabies is a deadly viral infection that is spread to humans through the saliva of an infected animal that bites the victim. Fortunately, and owing to widespread vaccination against the disease in U.S. dogs, it is now a less common disease in domestic animals. However, because rabies is fatal when not treated, it is best to be treated as though the dog was infected unless the dog’s owner shows proof that the dog has been vaccinated.

Consult with a Bonney Lake Dog Bite Injury Attorney Today

 

If you or a loved one has been bitten by a dog and injured, contact Anderson Law Injury Attorneys for a free consultation. We can discuss your legal options to obtain full compensation for your injuries from the owner of the dog in question.

The information contained on this website is intended for informational purposes only, and is not legal advice. Nothing in this website establishes an attorney-client relationship between us. Different facts can dramatically affect a legal opinion. You should consult an attorney for legal advice that pertains to your personal situation.