Adult Dog Bite Treatment (Animal Bite Wound)
Fast MD-only dog bite triage and treatment guidance for adults in Georgia by secure online video visit, $49 flat-fee, no insurance required.
Dog bites range from superficial wounds to deeper injuries that can involve nerves, tendons, or joints. Infection risk depends on depth, location, and timing. TeleDirectMD MDs use a structured evaluation to assess wound severity, screen for infection, and review tetanus and rabies risk. When appropriate for low-risk presentations, we can prescribe antibiotics and give clear next steps for urgent in-person care.
- $49 flat-fee visit, no hidden costs
- MD-only care, no mid-level providers
- No insurance required or accepted
- Available for adults in Georgia (and 25+ states)
- Secure, encrypted video visits from home
Online Dog Bite Care by Georgia-Licensed MDs
- Wound severity and infection risk screening
- Tetanus vaccine guidance
- Rabies risk review when relevant
- Antibiotics when appropriate
For adults only (18+). You must be physically located in Georgia at the time of your video visit. Deep bites, uncontrolled bleeding, facial bites, hand bites, or any loss of sensation or function require urgent in-person evaluation.
Dog Bites, Infection Risk, and When They Are Serious
Dog bites can introduce bacteria into the skin and deeper tissue. Even small wounds can become infected, especially if they are deep, contaminated, involve crushed tissue, or occur on the hand. Some bites can also cause tendon injury, nerve injury, or joint involvement.
TeleDirectMD focuses on early identification of high-risk features, careful red-flag screening, and clear next steps. Many dog bites require in-person evaluation. When a presentation is low risk and early, prophylactic antibiotics may be appropriate, paired with strict return precautions.
Dog Bite Symptoms and Red Flags
During your visit, the MD will review bite location, depth, timing, swelling, drainage, fever, and your medical history to determine whether telehealth is appropriate or whether you need urgent in-person evaluation.
| Finding | What it suggests | Telehealth appropriate? | Red flag requiring urgent in-person care |
|---|---|---|---|
| Superficial abrasion or shallow puncture with controlled bleeding | Lower-risk wound if cleaned promptly | Maybe | Deep puncture, gaping wound, or bleeding that will not stop |
| Deep bite, crushed tissue, or torn skin | Higher risk of infection and tissue injury | No | Urgent in-person evaluation recommended |
| Bite on hand, fingers, wrist, face, or near a joint | Higher risk of complications | Often no | Same-day urgent evaluation recommended |
| Increasing redness, warmth, swelling, tenderness | Cellulitis developing | Sometimes, early and mild only | Rapid spread, red streaking, severe pain, or swelling limiting motion |
| Pus, foul drainage, or a tender lump | Abscess | No | Needs in-person exam and possible drainage |
| Fever, chills, vomiting, feeling very ill | Systemic infection | No | Urgent care or ER evaluation recommended |
| Numbness, weakness, or difficulty moving fingers or limb | Nerve or tendon injury, deep infection | No | Urgent evaluation recommended |
| Severe pain with movement, pain along a tendon, or joint pain | Tendon sheath or joint involvement | No | Urgent evaluation recommended |
| Immunosuppression or uncontrolled diabetes | Higher-risk infection course | Often no | In-person evaluation recommended |
| Unknown dog, wild animal, or rabies exposure concern | Rabies risk assessment needed | No | Urgent evaluation for rabies guidance |
What We Screen For After a Dog Bite
- Cellulitis: spreading redness, warmth, tenderness.
- Abscess: focal pocket of pus that may need drainage.
- Tendon or nerve injury: numbness, weakness, loss of motion.
- Joint infection risk: bites near joints with severe pain and limited motion.
- Rabies and tetanus risk: based on animal behavior, vaccination status, and whether the animal can be observed.
When a Video Visit Is Appropriate vs. When to Go In-Person
When a Video Visit Is Appropriate
- Adult 18+ with a superficial wound and controlled bleeding
- No bite to hand, face, or near a joint
- No numbness, weakness, or functional limitation
- No fever or rapidly spreading redness
- Dog is known and rabies risk appears low
- Physically located in Georgia at the time of the video visit
Red Flags Requiring In-Person or ER Care
- Deep bite, gaping wound, or uncontrolled bleeding
- Bite on hand, face, genitals, or near a joint
- Numbness, weakness, or inability to move normally
- Rapidly spreading redness, red streaking, pus, or severe swelling
- Fever, vomiting, or feeling very ill
- Unknown dog, wild animal, or concern for rabies exposure
Treatment Options for Adult Dog Bites
Immediate wound cleaning is essential. Some dog bites need in-person care for irrigation, closure decisions, imaging, or evaluation for deeper injury. When a bite is early and low risk, prophylactic antibiotics may be appropriate. If infection is already developing, antibiotics may be needed, and abscess or deeper involvement requires in-person evaluation.
Immediate Home Care
- Wash the wound with soap and running water for several minutes.
- Apply a clean dressing and elevate the affected area when possible.
- Do not glue or tightly close puncture wounds.
- Take acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain if safe for you.
Antibiotics
Antibiotics are considered when there is higher infection risk, including deeper bites, bites on the hand, delayed presentation, or higher-risk patients. The MD will assess whether antibiotics are appropriate by telehealth or whether you need urgent in-person evaluation.
| Medication | Dose | Duration | When used |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amoxicillin and clavulanate | 875 mg/125 mg by mouth 2 times daily | 3 to 5 days | Prophylaxis for selected higher-risk bites when appropriate |
| Amoxicillin and clavulanate | 875 mg/125 mg by mouth 2 times daily | 5 to 7 days | Early mild infection when appropriate and no red flags |
| Doxycycline | 100 mg by mouth 2 times daily | 5 to 7 days | Penicillin allergy option in selected adults when appropriate |
| Metronidazole | 500 mg by mouth 2 times daily | 5 to 7 days | Added in selected scenarios for broader anaerobic coverage when appropriate |
| Tetanus vaccine | Per standard immunization schedule | One time | May be needed in person if not up to date |
TeleDirectMD does not prescribe controlled substances. Deep bites, hand or facial bites, uncontrolled bleeding, fever, rapidly spreading infection, numbness, or functional impairment require in-person evaluation.
Home Care, Recovery, and Return to Work
Monitor closely over the first 24 to 48 hours. If you were prescribed antibiotics, start them promptly and follow the full plan. Dog bite infections can worsen quickly, especially on the hand.
- Check the wound 2 times daily for increasing redness, swelling, warmth, drainage, or worsening pain.
- Keep the wound covered and clean. Change dressings if wet or soiled.
- Seek urgent evaluation for fever, rapidly spreading redness, pus, red streaking, or loss of function.
Many adults can work as tolerated if they feel well and the wound is covered. TeleDirectMD can provide a brief work note when medically appropriate as part of your $49 visit.
What to Expect From Your TeleDirectMD Visit
TeleDirectMD provides adult-only, MD-only virtual urgent care by secure video. Visits last about 10 to 15 minutes and cost $49 as a flat cash fee with no insurance involvement. During your dog bite visit, the MD will review wound appearance, timing, bleeding, location, symptoms, immunization status, and red flags.
If your presentation is appropriate for telehealth, we can send an electronic prescription to your preferred local pharmacy in Georgia when appropriate. If you need in-person evaluation for wound irrigation, closure decisions, imaging, tetanus, rabies guidance, or concern for deeper injury or infection, we will explain why and guide you on the safest next step.
We do not prescribe controlled substances.
Dog Bite Treatment FAQ
Do dog bites usually need antibiotics?
Not always. Antibiotics are more likely to be used for deeper bites, bites on the hand, delayed presentation, or higher-risk patients. The MD will assess your risk based on wound features and your medical history.
Should a dog bite be stitched closed?
Closure decisions depend on location, depth, contamination, and time since the bite. Some wounds should not be closed due to infection risk. This is typically decided in person after a hands-on exam.
What should I do immediately after a dog bite?
Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and running water for several minutes, apply a clean dressing, elevate the area, and seek medical guidance if the bite is deep, bleeding heavily, or on the hand or face.
How soon can a dog bite get infected?
Infection can develop within 24 to 72 hours. Increasing redness, warmth, swelling, pus, or worsening pain should be evaluated promptly, especially if fever develops.
Do I need a tetanus shot?
Possibly. If you are not up to date on tetanus vaccination, you may need a booster. This is usually done in person.
Do I need rabies shots?
Rabies risk depends on the animal, vaccination status, behavior, and whether the animal can be observed. If the dog is unknown, acting strangely, or cannot be observed, urgent in-person evaluation is recommended for rabies guidance.
When should I go to urgent care or the ER?
Go urgently for uncontrolled bleeding, deep wounds, bites to the hand or face, severe swelling, numbness, weakness, trouble moving the limb, fever, rapidly spreading redness, pus, or red streaking.
Can you treat a dog bite completely online?
Telehealth can help with triage, wound care guidance, and antibiotics for selected low-risk situations. Many dog bites require in-person evaluation for irrigation, closure decisions, imaging, tetanus, or rabies guidance.
Can you provide a work note for a dog bite visit?
TeleDirectMD can provide a brief work note when medically appropriate as part of the $49 visit.
Which states do you serve for online dog bite care?
TeleDirectMD currently serves adults located in Georgia and in more than 25 additional states. During booking, you will confirm that you are physically located in a licensed state at the time of your visit.