Got Bit By A Large Husky Dog In The Forearm

Posted on Wed, 20 Mar 2019

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 20 Mar 2019 Answered on

Last reviewed on

Question : Got bit by a large Husky dog in the forearm twice on my right arm. Obviously pain and swelling and forearm hurt. Also middle finger on left hand chewed up. My problem is that I went back to my doctor on a Tuesday to get bandages checked, infection checked. Strength was coming back and no problems other than forearm swore. Did a few things around house and lifted a few heavy things with that hand no problems. Woke up in morning and felt like someone had ripped my tricept muscle off the bone and thumb and first finger had no strength. Couldn't bend the joint on my thumb unless I did it manually. 2 weeks later still week (thumb and finger). I can feel things with them but cant use them as well as I did.

Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
To watch for neurological or local factors as discussed

Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thanks for your query.
Noted the history well and understood your concerns.
The commonest causes I can think for the weak thumb and first finger are as follows:
The dog bite causes the problem with the muscles responsible for the movements of the thumb and first finger.
Secondly you are giving a history of felt like someone ripped triceps muscle at the same time may indicate a problem at the neck spinal level.
Hence the diagnosis depends upon the following things:
Local examination of the affected area/ the whole limb and the neck region, neurological examination, muscle tone and all.
Nerve conduction study.
MRI of the affected area and/or cervical spine as would be found out on examination and clinical evaluation.

I hope, this answer helps you.
Please give feedback after clinical evaluation and investigations.
Feel free to ask for further relevant queries if you feel that there is a gap of communication.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar