Suggest Treatment For Dog Bite And Pain

Posted on Fri, 15 Aug 2014

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

Fri, 15 Aug 2014 Answered on

Sat, 6 Sep 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : My son was bitten by a dog on his upper arm 4 weeks ago. The bite required stitches, and he was given several shots and an antibiotic for 10 days. The dog had all of it's shots, and my son is current on his as well. However, my son is complaining the area is very sensitive to the touch. I am just concerned and wonder if I need to take my son in to have a doctor look at it again.

Answered by Dr. Eric Goldstein (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Dog Bite

Detailed Answer:
Hello. I just read through your question.
It sounds like everything that was done after the bite was appropriate, including the ten days of antibiotic. The healing process, especially after stitches, can take a long time. In fact, it can take up to 6 months, and in some cases 12 months.
Signs to look for in addition to tenderness, is warmth in the area and redness. These could indicate infection tat may require another course of antibiotic. If this happens, I recommend consulting with yord doctor. In the absence of these signs, it is not anything to worry about. Usually, a warm compress can help.

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