For a dog bite, the single most important thing to put on the wound is soap and water, and you should wash it thoroughly for at least 15 minutes. After that, apply an over-the-counter antibiotic cream or ointment and cover it with a clean bandage. That combination of thorough washing, topical antibiotic, and a loose dressing is the foundation of dog bite first aid.
Start With Soap and Water
Washing is more effective at preventing infection than anything you put on the wound afterward. The World Health Organization recommends washing a bite wound with soap and water for a full 15 minutes. That sounds like a long time, and it is. Most people rinse a wound for 30 seconds and move on. With a dog bite, you want running water and regular soap working over and through the wound for much longer because the goal is to flush out bacteria that were pushed deep into the tissue by the dog’s teeth.
Use plain soap. Antibacterial soap is fine but not necessary. Avoid hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol, and iodine directly in the wound. These can damage healthy tissue and actually slow healing. The mechanical action of soap and water does the heavy lifting.
What to Apply After Washing
Once the wound is clean, apply a thin layer of over-the-counter antibiotic ointment. Standard triple-antibiotic ointment (the kind sold at any pharmacy) works well for this purpose. It creates a protective barrier against bacteria while keeping the wound surface slightly moist, which supports healing.
For shallow bites from a healthy, vaccinated household pet, an antiseptic lotion or cream is another option. The key is keeping the wound from drying out completely while preventing contamination.
How to Bandage a Dog Bite
Cover the wound with a clean bandage, but keep it loose. You want to protect the bite from dirt and further contact, not seal it airtight. A sterile gauze pad held in place with medical tape or a light wrap works well. Change the dressing at least once a day, or sooner if it gets wet or dirty. Each time you change the bandage, gently clean the wound again and reapply ointment.
Keeping the wound slightly moist under the bandage is better than letting it dry out completely. Moist healing promotes tissue repair, encourages new skin growth, and reduces scarring compared to leaving a wound open to air. If the bite is oozing significantly, a thicker gauze pad can absorb drainage while still maintaining a healing environment underneath.
Why Dog Bites Get Infected So Easily
Dog bites are puncture wounds. A dog’s teeth push bacteria deep into tissue, then the small entry point closes over, trapping those bacteria in a warm, oxygen-poor space where they thrive. This is why dog bites carry a higher infection risk than most cuts or scrapes, and why thorough washing matters more than what you put on top.
An infection can develop within one to two days of a bite. Watch for increasing redness that spreads outward from the wound, swelling, warmth around the area, pus or foul-smelling drainage, red streaks running away from the bite, and fever. If any of these appear, you need medical attention promptly. An untreated bite infection can become serious quickly.
Bites That Need More Than Home Care
Not every dog bite can be managed with ointment and a bandage at home. Deep puncture wounds, bites that won’t stop bleeding after 15 minutes of direct pressure, bites on the face, hands, feet, or over joints, and any wound where tissue is torn or hanging loose all warrant professional evaluation. The same goes if you have diabetes, a weakened immune system, or any condition that slows healing.
Doctors typically prescribe a short course of oral antibiotics as a preventive measure for moderate to serious bites. A three-day prophylactic course is standard for many bite wounds, even before any signs of infection appear, because the infection risk is high enough to justify it.
Stitches Are Not Always the Answer
You might assume a deep bite should be stitched closed, but doctors often leave bite wounds open intentionally. Closing an infected or potentially infected wound can trap bacteria inside and make things worse. There is no strong evidence that immediately stitching a dog bite improves outcomes compared to leaving it open or closing it after a delay. Your doctor will assess the wound’s depth, location, and contamination level before deciding. Bites on the face are more likely to be closed for cosmetic reasons, while hand and leg bites are often left open to drain.
Tetanus and Rabies Considerations
Dog bites are classified as contaminated wounds for tetanus purposes. If your last tetanus booster was five or more years ago, you’ll likely need one. For clean, minor wounds the threshold is 10 years, but because a bite involves saliva and puncture, the five-year rule applies.
Rabies is rare in domestic dogs in the United States, but it’s worth understanding the protocol. If the dog that bit you is a healthy, vaccinated pet and can be observed for 10 days, rabies treatment is generally unnecessary. A dog that remains healthy after 10 days poses no rabies risk. However, if the dog was a stray, showed unusual behavior like unprovoked aggression, excessive drooling, or paralysis, or if it died or disappeared after the bite, rabies post-exposure treatment should be discussed with a healthcare provider immediately. Signs of rabies in dogs include hypersalivation, lethargy, abnormal aggression (biting people, animals, or objects without provocation), unusual vocalizations, and paralysis.
Quick Reference: What Goes on a Dog Bite
- First: Soap and running water for at least 15 minutes
- Then: A thin layer of over-the-counter antibiotic ointment
- Cover with: A clean, loosely applied bandage or gauze
- Avoid: Hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol, and iodine in the wound
- Change dressing: At least once daily, reapplying ointment each time