Adult Dog Bite Treatment (Dog Bite Wound Care)
Fast MD-only dog bite care by secure online video visit, $49 flat-fee, no insurance required.
Dog bites can cause puncture wounds, lacerations, crush injuries, and bacterial infection. Some bites can be managed safely as an outpatient with careful cleaning and antibiotics, while others need urgent in-person care for suturing, imaging, tetanus shots, or rabies evaluation. Our board-certified MDs use guideline-based assessment to triage your bite, start appropriate treatment when telehealth is safe, and tell you clearly when you need to be seen in urgent care, a dental clinic, or the emergency department.
- $49 flat-fee adult visit
- MD-only care (no mid-levels)
- No insurance required
- Secure video visits in 25+ states
Online MD-Only Dog Bite Wound Care
- Adult 18+ evaluation of recent dog bites and wound photos
- Assessment of infection risk, depth of injury, and joint or tendon involvement
- Antibiotic bridge therapy and pain-control plan when appropriate
- Clear guidance on tetanus boosters, rabies risk, and when in-person care is urgent
TeleDirectMD cannot suture wounds, give tetanus or rabies shots, or perform X-rays. Deep, heavily bleeding, or high-risk bites may require immediate in-person evaluation. Adults 18+ only; no controlled substances are prescribed through TeleDirectMD.
What Is a Dog Bite Wound and When Is It Serious?
Dog bites range from superficial scratches to deep puncture or crush injuries that can damage skin, muscles, tendons, joints, and nerves. Even small puncture wounds can introduce bacteria from the dog’s mouth and the skin surface into deeper tissues. Hands, feet, and bites over joints or the face carry higher risk for complications.
Most dog bite infections are bacterial rather than viral, but every bite also triggers a review of tetanus status and possible rabies exposure. Telehealth is well suited for evaluating adults with stable vital signs, controllable bleeding, and good-quality photos of the wound. Severe pain, large tissue loss, suspected fracture, or any airway or systemic symptoms require urgent in-person or emergency care instead of telehealth-only management.
Dog Bite Symptoms and Red Flags in Adults
Many dog bites can be managed with careful cleaning, monitoring, and a short course of antibiotics. Certain patterns, however, suggest deeper infection, structural injury, or rabies risk and require in-person or emergency evaluation.
| Finding | What it suggests | Telehealth appropriate? | Red flag requiring urgent in-person care |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small, superficial bite or scratch with intact movement | Minor soft-tissue injury with low but real infection risk | Yes, often suitable for telehealth cleaning guidance and prophylactic antibiotics | Not a red flag if bleeding is controlled and no systemic symptoms |
| Puncture wounds to hand, fingers, or over a joint | Higher risk of tendon, joint, or deep space infection | Telehealth may start antibiotics and triage | Urgent in-person evaluation if severe pain, limited motion, or rapidly increasing swelling |
| Visible gaping laceration or tissue loss | Complex wound that may need suturing or surgical repair | No as sole care | Requires same-day in-person urgent care, dental/oral surgery, or ER for repair and imaging |
| Redness, warmth, and swelling spreading from bite after 24–48 hours | Developing cellulitis or soft-tissue infection | Sometimes, for early, mild cases in well-appearing adults | Urgent in-person care if rapidly spreading, very painful, or associated with fever or chills |
| Red streaks up the limb or tender lymph nodes | Lymphangitis and more serious bacterial infection | No | Requires prompt in-person or emergency evaluation and likely IV antibiotics |
| Fever, feeling very ill, or low blood pressure | Systemic infection or sepsis from bite | No | Emergency department care is needed |
| Loss of sensation, weakness, or inability to move nearby fingers or toes | Possible nerve, tendon, or vascular injury | No as primary management | Requires urgent in-person exam and possible imaging or surgery |
| Bite from stray, wild-acting, or unvaccinated dog with unknown rabies status | Potential rabies exposure depending on local epidemiology | Telehealth can help review risk and next steps | Urgent in-person care is needed for rabies vaccine and immune globulin when indicated |
| Bite to face, scalp, or near eyes | Higher cosmetic and infection risk | Telehealth may triage and start antibiotics | Strongly consider in-person evaluation for repair, especially in large or deep wounds |
| Persistent heavy bleeding despite pressure for 10–15 minutes | Possible arterial injury or deep laceration | No | Emergency department care for hemostasis and possible suturing |
Differential Diagnosis: Dog Bites vs Other Adult Wound Conditions
During your TeleDirectMD visit, the MD will review how the injury happened, what the wound looks like, and your symptoms to differentiate a straightforward dog bite from other conditions that may mimic or complicate it.
Findings Consistent With Dog Bite Wounds
- Clear history of a bite from a known or unknown dog
- Puncture marks, lacerations, or crush injuries in pattern matching dog teeth
- Onset of pain and swelling within hours of the bite
- Possible increasing redness or warmth over the next 24–72 hours if infection develops
Other Conditions Considered
- Non-bite cellulitis: Spontaneous skin infection not related to trauma.
- Closed fracture or sprain: Pain and swelling after fall or twist without puncture marks.
- Deep vein thrombosis: Limb swelling and pain without clear skin break, particularly in the leg.
- Human or cat bites: Different bacterial risk profile and sometimes different antibiotic choices.
If your history or exam suggests fracture, joint infection, deep-space hand infection, compartment syndrome, or systemic illness, our MDs will direct you to in-person urgent care or the emergency department rather than managing you solely through telehealth.
When Is a Video Visit Appropriate for Adult Dog Bite Care?
When a Video Visit Is Appropriate
- Adult 18+ with a recent dog bite and controlled bleeding
- Superficial or moderate-depth wounds without exposed bone, tendon, or joint
- No high fever, severe chills, or signs of sepsis
- Able to move nearby joints and fingers or toes, even if sore
- Needs guidance on cleaning, infection warning signs, and antibiotic bridge therapy
- Unsure about tetanus status or rabies risk and wants MD advice on next steps
- Willing to go to urgent care, dental/oral surgery, or ER promptly if advised
Red Flags Requiring In-Person or ER Care
- Heavy or pulsatile bleeding that does not stop with firm pressure
- Deep gaping wounds, crushed tissue, or suspected fracture or dislocation
- Rapidly spreading redness, severe pain, or significant swelling of a limb
- Fever, chills, feeling very ill, or low blood pressure after a bite
- Bites near the eye, with vision changes or eye pain
- Bites from a dog acting strangely, foaming at the mouth, or with unknown vaccination status
- Immunocompromised adults or those with poorly controlled diabetes and severe symptoms
If any red-flag symptoms are present, seek in-person or emergency care immediately. TeleDirectMD is not an emergency service and is best used for stable adults needing triage, early antibiotic therapy, and clear advice on tetanus and rabies follow-up.
Treatment Options for Adult Dog Bite Wounds
Dog bite treatment focuses on prompt wound cleaning, reducing bacterial infection risk, assessing tetanus and rabies needs, and deciding when in-person repair or imaging is required. Our MDs follow evidence-based guidelines and antibiotic stewardship principles.
Immediate Wound Care and Home Measures
- Wash the wound gently with running water and mild soap for several minutes if it is safe to do so.
- Apply gentle pressure with a clean cloth or bandage to control bleeding.
- Cover the area with a clean, non-stick dressing; avoid tight wraps that impair circulation.
- Elevate the affected limb when possible to reduce swelling and pain.
- Avoid applying hydrogen peroxide, iodine, or harsh chemicals repeatedly, as they can delay healing.
Medications and Preventive Steps (When Appropriate)
- Short courses of antibiotics for moderate or high-risk wounds, especially to hands, feet, face, or over joints.
- Non-opioid pain management with ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or both when safe for you.
- Guidance on when and where to obtain tetanus boosters based on your vaccine history.
- Rabies risk review and referral to urgent care or ER for rabies vaccine and immune globulin when indicated.
- Recommendations for in-person wound closure, imaging, or specialty evaluation when needed.
TeleDirectMD does not give vaccines, perform suturing, or prescribe opioids for dog bite pain. Our role is to provide rapid MD-level triage, start safe oral medications when indicated, and direct you to the right in-person setting for definitive care, tetanus boosters, and rabies prophylaxis if needed.
Common Medications Used for Adult Dog Bites
The exact regimen is individualized based on wound location, time since injury, kidney and liver function, allergies, and other medications. The table below shows typical examples your MD may consider during a TeleDirectMD visit.
| Medication | Dose | Duration | When it is used |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amoxicillin-clavulanate 875/125 mg tablet | 875/125 mg by mouth 2 times daily with food | Typically 5–7 days | First-line antibiotic for many adult dog bites at risk for infection, in those without penicillin allergy |
| Doxycycline 100 mg tablet | 100 mg by mouth 2 times daily with water | Typically 5–7 days | Alternative for some penicillin-allergic adults when local resistance patterns and comorbidities permit |
| Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole DS tablet | 1 tablet by mouth 2 times daily | Typically 5–7 days | Used in selected adults, often combined with an additional agent for anaerobic coverage, when indicated |
| Metronidazole 500 mg tablet | 500 mg by mouth 3 times daily | Typically 5–7 days | Sometimes combined with other agents in penicillin-allergic adults for broader anaerobic coverage |
| Ibuprofen 600 mg tablet | 600 mg by mouth every 6 hours as needed with food | Several days as needed | Non-opioid analgesic for pain control in adults without significant kidney, GI, or cardiovascular contraindications |
| Acetaminophen 500–1,000 mg tablet | 500–1,000 mg by mouth every 6 hours as needed (maximum 3,000 mg per day unless otherwise directed) | Several days as needed | Adjunct or alternative to NSAIDs in adults without significant liver disease or heavy alcohol use |
These are example regimens only. Actual medications, doses, and durations are determined by the MD after reviewing your history, wound characteristics, allergies, kidney and liver function, and other medications. TeleDirectMD does not prescribe controlled substances via telehealth and uses antibiotics with stewardship principles, avoiding unnecessary or prolonged courses.
Home Care, Expectations, and Return to Work
After a dog bite, the goals are to keep the wound clean, watch for early signs of infection, and complete any recommended antibiotics and vaccines. Pain and stiffness often improve over several days, but deeper injuries may take longer.
- Change dressings as instructed and keep the area clean and dry, avoiding soaking the wound until cleared.
- Take prescribed antibiotics exactly as directed and finish the full course, even if you feel better sooner.
- Monitor for increasing redness, swelling, warmth, pus, red streaks, or fever and seek care immediately if these occur.
- Follow through on tetanus boosters and any rabies vaccination schedule arranged with in-person clinicians.
- Protect the area from further trauma and gradually return to normal use as pain and swelling resolve.
Many adults can return to work quickly for non-physical jobs, while those with bites to hands, feet, or weight-bearing joints may need temporary task modifications. TeleDirectMD can provide documentation of evaluation and bridge treatment, but long-term disability decisions or work restrictions generally require in-person follow-up.
TeleDirectMD Telehealth Disclaimer
TeleDirectMD provides MD-only virtual urgent care for adults using secure video visits to evaluate conditions such as dog bites. Visits are $49 flat-fee with no insurance required and are available in 25+ states. Our physicians follow evidence-based guidelines, clarify what can be safely managed via telehealth, and explain when in-person urgent care, dental/oral surgery, primary care, or emergency evaluation is more appropriate. TeleDirectMD is not an emergency service or a replacement for comprehensive in-person wound care.
Adult Dog Bite Treatment FAQs
Not every dog bite requires antibiotics, but many do. Bites to the hands, feet, face, or over joints, deeper puncture wounds, and bites in people with diabetes or weakened immune systems are higher risk and are often treated with antibiotics. During your video visit we review your specific wound and risk factors before deciding whether antibiotics are recommended or whether careful cleaning and monitoring is enough.
Yes. For adults 18+ with bites that are appropriate for telehealth, TeleDirectMD MDs can prescribe oral antibiotics and non-opioid pain medication such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen when safe for you. We do not prescribe opioids or other controlled substances. If your wound is too deep, complicated, or infected to manage safely online, we will direct you to in-person urgent care or an emergency department instead of relying on telehealth-only treatment.
Dog bites are considered tetanus-prone wounds. If you have not had a tetanus booster in the last 5–10 years (depending on wound type and guidelines), you usually need one. TeleDirectMD cannot administer vaccines, but we will review your vaccine history and advise whether you should go to urgent care, a primary care clinic, or a local health department for a tetanus booster as soon as possible after the bite.
In many parts of the United States, vaccinated domestic dogs have low rabies risk, but any bite from an unknown, wild-acting, or unvaccinated dog should be taken seriously. We will ask where you live, how the bite happened, and what is known about the dog’s vaccination status and behavior. If risk is not clearly low, we will direct you to an in-person facility that can coordinate rabies vaccine and immune globulin based on local public health guidance rather than trying to manage rabies decisions by telehealth alone.
If bleeding is controlled and it is safe to do so, gently rinse the wound under running water for several minutes and use mild soap around the area. Do not scrub aggressively or repeatedly pour harsh chemicals into the wound. Apply light pressure with a clean cloth to stop bleeding, then cover with a clean, non-stick dressing. During your TeleDirectMD visit we will give you wound-specific cleaning and dressing instructions, and let you know if further irrigation or in-person care is needed the same day.
You should go directly to an emergency department if you have heavy or pulsatile bleeding that will not stop, deep gaping wounds, obvious bone or tendon exposure, rapidly spreading redness and severe pain, high fever or feeling very ill, trouble moving fingers or toes, or any bite near the eyes with vision changes. These may signal injuries or infections that require imaging, suturing, IV antibiotics, or emergency surgery and are not safe to manage by telehealth alone.
Superficial dog bites often start to feel better within several days and may heal over 1–2 weeks. Deeper wounds, especially on the hands, feet, or face, can take longer and are more prone to scarring or stiffness. Good cleaning, infection prevention, and timely in-person repair when needed can reduce long-term scarring and functional problems. During and after your TeleDirectMD visit we will advise when to seek in-person follow-up for wound checks or scar management options if needed later on.
TeleDirectMD is an adult-focused service, and this dog bite treatment page applies to adults 18+ only. Children can have different risks, dosing needs, and follow-up requirements, especially for facial bites and rabies decisions. If a child is bitten, they should be evaluated promptly in person by a pediatric clinician, urgent care, or an emergency department, depending on severity and local resources.
Concerning signs include increasing redness, warmth, or swelling around the wound, pus or foul-smelling drainage, red streaks traveling up the limb, worsening pain, fever, chills, or feeling generally unwell. If any of these develop or worsen despite antibiotics, you should seek in-person care immediately, as more intensive treatment or IV antibiotics may be needed. Do not wait for a follow-up telehealth visit if infection is rapidly progressing.
TeleDirectMD offers MD-only, guideline-based dog bite triage and treatment through secure $49 video visits with no insurance required in 25+ states. We focus on rapid risk assessment, appropriate antibiotics and pain management, and clear instructions about tetanus, rabies, and when you need in-person repair or imaging. We do not replace urgent care or ERs for severe injuries, but we can often save you time and confusion by clarifying whether at-home care, outpatient follow-up, or immediate in-person treatment is the safest choice.