Different Levels of Dog Bites – What to Expect in Each Level?
Last updated on March 19th, 2025 at 01:33 pm
To understand a dog bite, first, it is important to know the different levels of dog bites. Dog bites range from minor to severe; where severe dog bites have the potential to lead to death.
The concept of level of dog bites was first developed by Dr. Ian Dunbar. This classification not only guides medical professionals but helps victims understand what to do if they’ve been bitten by a dog.
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The scale of different levels of dog bites
The different levels of dog bites and the severity of injury given by Dr. Ian Dunbar are as follows:
- Level One:- At this level, there is no skin-to-teeth contact and it can be zestful, obnoxious behavior or aggression.
- Level Two:- In this level, there is skin and teeth contact but there are no punctures. Though, there may be a small tear.
- Level Three:- A level 3 dog bite, also referred to as a category 3 dog bite, involves one to four punctures from a single bite. Small tears often appear because the victim instinctively pulls away after being bitten by a dog.
- Level Four:- This level involves one to four deep punctures and bruising caused by the dog holding and possibly shaking while biting. Such dog bites often result in severe injuries.
- Level Five:- In level five of a dog bite, the dog bites its victim multiple times, in which they might bite the victim more than two times in a single attack with bites of level four, in which the bite makes one to four deep punctures, and there are bruises and tears caused because of the bite.
- Level Six:- Level six is the most severe level of a dog bite. In this level, the victim dies because of the dog bite.
What to do in case of a dog bite?
To reduce the risk of infection from the injury, there are a few steps that the victim needs to take as soon as possible.
You need to take professional medical treatment on the same day as there might be punctures and open wounds that are jagged after a dog bite.
Emergency medicine physician Stephen Sayles III, MD says that if the wound caused by a dog bite becomes infected, then it is more likely to become a severe medical case.
An individual might need to be hospitalized and may require intravenous antibiotics.
A victim of a dog bite must see a health professional within eight hours of the attack, regardless of the severity of the wound.
Leaving the wound unattended increases the risk of infection. If the victim is diabetic or immunocompromised the risk of infection is higher.
Infection risk from a dog bite
The prime motive for taking care of a wound from a dog bite is to prevent infection. As a rough estimation, 50% of a dog bite introduces bacteria, which include Capnocytophaga, Streptococcus, and Pasteurella.
Dogs who are unvaccinated or undomesticated have the potential of carrying rabies and transferring it through a bite, hence a health professional will inquire about the dog that has bitten an individual.
Symptoms of a dog bite infection can include:
- swelling and redness around the wound
- pain that lasts longer than 24 hours
- drainage from the wound
- difficulty moving the affected part of the body
- a warm feeling around the wound
Signs that the infection may have spread to other parts of the body include:
- fever
- shaking
- night sweats
Rabies
Rabies is a fatal virus that transmits from one infected being to another through saliva.
Rabies virus generally transmits through bites. Once exposed to the virus and begins to show symptoms, in most cases, it leads to the death.
Vaccination for rabies is a must for protection from the virus once an individual is at risk.
What to Do if You’re Bitten by a Dog?
Even in minor cases, dog bites can lead to unforeseen complications if ignored. Proper steps and dog bite treatment after a bite reduce the risk of infection or diseases like rabies, which may result from the dog’s saliva.
Here are key steps to take:
- Wash the wound:- Clean the wound gently with mild soap and warm running water for at least five to ten minutes. This helps to remove bacteria introduced by the bite.
- Slow the bleeding:- Slow the bleeding from the wound using a clean cloth on the wound, especially for deeper punctures from a level 3 dog bite.
- Apply antibiotics:- Use an over-the-counter antiseptic or antibiotic cream to avoid infection, which is particularly crucial for injuries from a category 3 dog bite or above.
- Cover the wound:- Cover the wound with a medical bandage to prevent the open wound from germs and bacteria.
- Consult a health professional:- Seek medical help as soon as possible, to clinically examine the wound and take necessary steps.
- Aftercare:- Change the bandage regularly to avoid infection after the wound as doctor’s recommendation.
- Keeping track of the wound:- Keep an eye out for any signs of infection.
What to expect from a doctor’s office?
When an individual becomes a victim of a dog bite, a medical professional would want to know more about the dog and the attack to do the necessary.
Cleaning of the wound will be done again by the medical professional, they will apply antibiotics ointment on the wound such as augmentin, and will prescribe antibiotics if there is a concern of infection.
The medical professional would also want to know details about the last time the victim got a tetanus immunization and rabies vaccination shot and accordingly will recommend taking all the vaccine doses or the boosters.
The medical professional may also recommend stitches, depending on the wound.
Though generally, this is not the case. Dog bite wounds are largely not stitched, they are left open to heal naturally. But when the wound has the potential of leaving severe scars or is deep they are stitched.
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