What to do after a dog bite

Wash and get seen

Medical care comes first. If the bite is bleeding hard or looks serious, get emergency care now. The call can wait until you are safe.

Stop the bleeding with a clean cloth. Then wash with mild soap and warm running water for 3 to 5 minutes, as MedlinePlus advises. A quick rinse is not enough, even for a small bite that broke the skin.

• See a provider within 24 hours for any bite that breaks the skin.
• Go the same day if the bite is deep or on the face, hands or feet.
• Go the same day if your last tetanus shot was over 5 years ago. Check your shot records or ask your doctor's office for the date.

Our dog bite treatment guide has the full list.

Get the owner's name and insurer

Once you have been cared for, the first step for your claim is a call to us. Then ask the owner for four things. You need their full name, address, phone number, and homeowners or renters insurance company.

Also ask whether the dog's rabies shots are current.

Example: Maria texted her neighbor that evening and got the name of the neighbor's insurer. That one text let her claim start the next morning without a single awkward conversation.

Report it and take photos

Report the bite to local animal control or the health department. Los Angeles County's health office explains that a report lets officials watch an available dog for 10 days.

That observation can help, but it does not rule out rabies by itself. It also does not replace a prompt medical check of your exposure.

The report also gives you a dated record with the owner's name and the dog's vaccine status. Your city or county can confirm which office takes bite reports. Your state page summarizes the dog bite rules and deadlines for your state.

Then take photos of these things:

• The wound on day one, then again as it heals.
• Torn or bloody clothing. Keep the clothing in a bag.
• The place it happened, such as the gate, the gap in the fence or the missing leash.
• The dog, taken from a safe distance.

Don't sign anything yet

The insurer may call within days. They may ask for a recorded statement or a signed medical release. Both can wait.

A release signed early can give the insurer your full medical history. A quick offer often comes before you know whether there will be a scar.

Before you agree to anything, call (844) 703-3920. We go through the offer with you for free, at any hour, and you pay nothing unless you win. To learn who usually pays, read does homeowners insurance cover dog bites.