How Long Do Dog Bites Take to Heal?

A dog bite can take anywhere from seven days to several months to fully heal. The healing time depends on how severe the bite is, where it occurs on the body, and how well you take care of it. Minor bites usually heal within a week if you keep them clean, while deeper wounds can take a few weeks (or months), especially if stitches are involved.

If the bite gets infected, it’ll take longer and might need antibiotics to clear up. Keeping the wound clean and following your doctor’s advice is key. If it’s not healing or shows signs of infection like swelling, redness, or oozing, call your doctor right away.

When should you call for help?

If someone is bitten by a dog, it’s best to call a doctor right away to confirm the type of care you need. You may need antibiotics, a rabies shot, or a tetanus shot. Call your doctor or get medical help ASAP if:

• You were bitten hard: The wound is a deep puncture, or you’re just not sure how bad it is.

• You see severe bleeding: The skin is badly torn, crushed, or bleeding heavily. (While you’re waiting for help, apply firm pressure with a clean cloth or bandage to slow the bleeding.)

• You notice signs of infection: Swelling, redness, warmth around the wound, fever, increased pain, or oozing can all be red flags.

• You don’t know the animal: If you’re unsure whether the animal who bit you has rabies, don’t wait — get advice.

• The pain is getting worse: If your pain intensifies after the initial injury, call your doctor.

• You see signs of poor blood flow: If the skin near the bite gets cold, pale, or discolored, or you notice numbness, tingling, or trouble moving a limb.

Treating dog bite wounds

If you’re thinking about treating a bite at home and skipping a trip to the doctor, don’t. If the bite breaks the skin, it’s serious enough to see a doctor. You might need antibiotics or a tetanus shot. And if it’s from a dog with an unknown history, rabies shots could be necessary too. Following all directions from the doctor will help speed up healing and is a must in order to ensure proper healing and minimize the chance of infection.

For minor scratches and bites

The Mayo Clinic recommends you wash the bite wound thoroughly with soap and water, apply antibiotic cream, and cover it with a clean bandage. Keeping the wound clean and dry will help speed healing and prevent infection. Avoid scrubbing or soaking the wound, and avoid hydrogen peroxide and alcohol, which will damage the skin and slow healing. For minor wounds, you might handle this at home — but call your doctor to double-check what’s best. For more serious bites, wound care may have to be performed by a professional.

It’s worth repeating that you should visit a medical professional any time a dog bite breaks the skin. If possible, bring the dog’s medical records to show the doctor. This may eliminate the need for rabies shots and can help guide treatment.

References

Mayo Clinic. “Animal Bites: First Aid.” Mayo Clinic, 2017, www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-animal-bites/basics/art-20056591.

‌“Kaiser Permanente.” @Kpthrive, 2021, healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/health-wellness/health-encyclopedia/he.animal-bites-care-instructions.uh3283. Accessed 13 Jan. 2025.

‌Rochester.edu, 2024, www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content?contenttypeid=90&contentid=P01897. Accessed 13 Jan. 2025.