If another dog has bitten your dog, your first priorities are separating the dogs safely, assessing the wound, and getting veterinary care. Most dog bite wounds carry a high risk of infection even when they look minor on the surface, because a dog’s teeth create deep puncture wounds that trap bacteria underneath the skin. Here’s what to do, step by step.
Safely Separate the Dogs
Never use your hands or body to pull fighting dogs apart. You will likely get bitten yourself. Start with the least physical methods and escalate only if needed.
- Make a loud noise. An air horn, whistle, or even screaming can startle dogs into releasing. If your dog has a phrase that gets an excited response (“car ride,” “cookies”), try shouting it in a loud, upbeat tone.
- Spray near their noses. Canned air, citronella spray, or even a carbonated beverage sprayed toward the dogs’ faces can break their focus. You may need to do this several times.
- Use water. A bucket of water or a garden hose aimed at the dogs can work as a distraction.
- Throw a blanket or towel over the aggressor to disorient them.
- Use a barrier. A baby gate, chair, or large board brought down between the two dogs can physically block them. Once the aggressor releases, slide the barrier and your body between the dogs to keep them apart.
If either dog was on a leash, use it to pull them in opposite directions once they’ve separated. Get the dogs out of sight of each other as quickly as possible.
Exchange Information With the Other Owner
Treat this like a car accident. Before anyone leaves, collect the other dog owner’s name, address, and phone number. Ask whether the dog’s rabies vaccination is current and when it was last given. Note the dog’s breed, color, sex, and any identifying markings. If the bite happened at a park or public place, take photos of the scene, the other dog, and your dog’s injuries. Write down whether the bite seemed provoked or unprovoked. All of this matters for your vet visit, for animal control if you choose to file a report, and for any potential liability claim.
Assess the Wound
Dog bites are deceptive. The visible damage on the surface often doesn’t reflect what’s happening underneath. A dog’s teeth exert enormous pressure, and even a small puncture can crush tissue, tear muscle, or create pockets where bacteria thrive. Fur also hides wounds, so part your dog’s hair carefully and check the entire area that was grabbed or shaken.
Look for puncture wounds, tears in the skin, swelling, or bleeding. If your dog is bleeding heavily, the wound is deep or gaping, the bite is near the throat, chest, or abdomen, or your dog seems lethargic or in shock, go to an emergency vet immediately. Internal injuries from crushing bites can be life-threatening even when the skin barely breaks.
Clean Minor Wounds at Home
If the wound is superficial and only breaks the top layer of skin, you can do initial first aid before your vet appointment. Wash the area gently with soap and water to flush out bacteria. Apply a thin layer of antibiotic ointment and cover the wound with a clean bandage if your dog will tolerate it. Do not use hydrogen peroxide or alcohol, which can damage tissue and slow healing.
This is first aid, not a substitute for veterinary care. Even minor-looking puncture wounds frequently become infected, so a vet visit is still important.
Get to the Vet
Your vet will likely clip the fur around the wound, flush it thoroughly, and check for deeper damage that isn’t visible from the surface. Many bite wounds need antibiotics to prevent infection. Deeper or more complex injuries may require stitches, drains, or surgery.
Costs vary widely depending on severity. A basic sick visit with an exam runs $75 to $300. If the injuries require emergency care or surgery, expect $1,000 to $10,000 or more depending on the complexity and your location. Ask the vet for an itemized estimate before procedures begin, and keep all receipts if you plan to pursue reimbursement from the other dog’s owner or their homeowner’s insurance.
If your dog’s rabies vaccination is current, the vet will likely give an immediate booster shot. The CDC recommends that vaccinated animals exposed to a potentially rabid animal receive a booster right away and then be monitored for signs of rabies over the following 45 days. If the biting dog’s vaccination status is unknown, tell your vet immediately, as this changes the follow-up protocol.
Watch for Signs of Infection
Bite wound infections can appear within 24 hours or take days to develop, depending on the depth of the wound and how much bacteria got in. Check the wound at least twice a day for the first week. Warning signs include increasing redness that spreads outward from the wound, swelling that gets worse rather than better, warmth around the site, discharge or pus, and a foul smell. Your dog may also become lethargic, lose interest in food, or develop a fever.
If you notice any of these signs, contact your vet. Infections from dog bites can progress to cellulitis, a spreading bacterial infection in the deeper layers of skin that requires prompt antibiotic treatment.
The Rabies Observation Period
The standard protocol for a dog that has bitten another animal or person is a 10-day observation period. During this time, the biting dog is confined and monitored for signs of rabies. If the dog appears healthy at the end of 10 days, it was not shedding rabies virus at the time of the bite. This observation period applies even if the biting dog has a current rabies vaccination, because vaccine failures, while rare, do occur.
Animal control typically manages this process. Reporting requirements for dog-on-dog bites vary by state and county. In some jurisdictions, reporting is encouraged but not legally required when the victim is another animal rather than a person. Contact your local animal control to find out what applies in your area and whether they’ll initiate the observation period for the biting dog.
Consider Filing a Report
Even where reporting isn’t mandatory, filing a report with animal control or local law enforcement creates an official record of the incident. This matters if the same dog bites again, if you need to pursue the other owner for vet bills, or if the situation escalates. Include the date, time, location, a description of what happened, and the other owner’s contact information. Attach photos of your dog’s injuries and copies of vet records.
Helping Your Dog Recover Emotionally
Physical wounds heal, but many dogs develop lasting fear or reactivity after being attacked. Your dog may become anxious on walks, freeze or panic when they see other dogs, or become defensive in situations that never bothered them before. This is normal, and pushing your dog to “get over it” by forcing interactions will make things worse.
Once your dog is physically healed and cleared for walks, let them set the pace. Start with short, quiet walks close to home. Bring small, high-value treats and give them generously whenever another dog comes into view at a distance. The goal is to build a new association: other dog appears, good things happen. Over time, your dog’s comfort zone will expand.
If your dog shows signs of distress, calmly and cheerfully change direction. Don’t wait for a full panic. And if other dog owners approach wanting their dogs to “say hi,” it’s completely fine to say no. Protecting your dog’s space during recovery is not rude.
If your dog’s fear or reactivity doesn’t improve after several weeks, or if they become aggressive, a certified professional dog trainer or veterinary behaviorist can design a structured desensitization plan. Dogs that were severely attacked sometimes benefit from short-term anti-anxiety medication during the rehabilitation process, which your vet can discuss with you.