First, get your dog to the vet
Call your vet straight away, even if the wounds look small. Small punctures from canine teeth can close over quickly and are easy to miss under fur, VCA Animal Hospitals warns.
Go to an emergency vet for bleeding you cannot stop, trouble breathing, weakness, pale or blue gums or collapse.
If you were bitten while pulling the dogs apart, get seen yourself. See dog bite treatment.
Signs of a dog infection from dog bite wounds
A dog's mouth is full of bacteria, so VCA treats every bite that breaks the skin as contaminated. Left alone, an infected bite can turn into an abscess or a spreading skin infection.
Call the vet if you see swelling, heat or pain around the bite in the days after, pus or a bad smell or a dog that stops eating.
Who pays when your dog was bitten by another dog
Most dog bite laws are written to protect people. A bite to your dog is usually a claim for damage to your property: the vet bills and the dog's value if the worst happens.
You may need to show the other owner was careless. The dog was off its leash, got out of a yard or had attacked before. A leash law or a past report helps.
The other owner's home or renters policy may pay. The Triple-I says a renters policy pays for damage the owner's pets cause to others. Report the attack too, so there is a record if the dog does it again. See how to report a dog bite.
A bite at the dog park or doggy daycare
At a dog park, the claim is against the other dog's owner. Park rules on leashes and aggressive dogs help show who was careless.
At a daycare, kennel or groomer, the business was caring for your dog. Read the contract you signed, since it may limit what they owe and keep the vet records.
If a person was hurt as well, that claim is worth far more. Use the settlement calculator for a rough range and check dog bite laws by state.
