2.0 Immediate Symptoms and Physical Manifestations

The initial signs of a dog bite are typically localized to the site of the injury and vary in severity.

• Primary Localized Symptoms: The most common and immediate effects observed at the wound site include:
  • Pain and Redness: An acute onset of pain accompanied by redness in the surrounding tissue.
  • Swelling: Often one of the first indicators of infection, swelling results from tissue trauma, bleeding, or inflammation.
  • Bleeding: The extent of bleeding can range from minor oozing from superficial scratches to severe hemorrhaging from deep wounds that damage blood vessels.
  • Bruising: Subcutaneous blood accumulation due to impact or tissue crushing can cause significant bruising.
• Forms of Tissue Damage: The physical injury is dictated by the dog’s teeth and the force of the bite:
  • Tears, cuts, and deep puncture wounds.
  • Significant tissue loss or avulsion.
• Neurological Impact: If nerves are damaged during the bite, the victim may experience:
  • Numbness or tingling sensations.
  • Complete loss of feeling (sensory loss) in the affected area.