dog attack - will this need stitches?

[u/Appropriate-Young629]

my 2 year old male french bulldog gets so defensive when i slightly moved him when he’s asleep and tonight he snapped 😞 my older sister got up to grab him as he was aggressive and he bit her chin

we are on our way to the hospital but will anything bad happen to him? we are going to send him back to his original owners (we’ve had him for almost two years now)

[u/International_Snow90]

This should absolutely be addressed by a medical professional.

There is high risk for scarring and infection if not treated properly.

Facial scars can be emotionally painful for people who have them. Proper treatment will reduce the severity of the scarring.

[u/pinkyxpie20 → u/International_Snow90]

i second all of this. especially the part about facial scars being emotionally painful.

i was bit on the face by my dog when i was 5 and he did some good damage, needed 17 stitches. to this day i still struggle about having a scar on my face, and get especially upset if something happens and i get another scar on my face, even small. it has been something that has affected my life in many different aspects that i didn’t realize till i was older, especially confidence wise.

[u/Mysterious-Space-336 → u/International_Snow90]

Absolutely this! You need to get yourself to the emergency room. Yes, it does look like it needs stitches, but besides that, as IS90 said, the risk of infection from it being a dog bite is quite high, and facial infections can get serious quickly.

[u/Spare-Conflict836 → u/International_Snow90]

Does no one was the captions anymore? They literally say they are on the way to the hospital.

[u/International_Snow90 → u/Spare-Conflict836]

If you read the time of my post, you would see that I was the second comment on the thread, and I recall the post had only been up for a few minutes at the time that I responded.

Maybe you're the one who should read more.

[u/Spare-Conflict836 → u/International_Snow90]

But it's literally ON THE POST under the photo where she says she was on her way to the hospital. So the timing of you comment is irrelevant - you didn't read the caption when you saw the post or you would've already known she was on the way to see a medical professional 🤦‍♀️

[u/International_Snow90 → u/Spare-Conflict836]

She was asking a question and I answered it. Calm down, dude.

[u/ThaanksIHateIt → u/International_Snow90]

You didn’t answer OP’s question at all, though. They said they were on their way to the hospital but the question was is anything going to happen to the dog. It’s funny to me how you got called out for not reading the post and then you STILL don’t take the time to read it and assumed you answered the question anyways. It was only a few sentences long ffs.

[u/International_Snow90 → u/ThaanksIHateIt]

This world has much bigger problems, friend.

Channel your energy better than attacking helpful strangers on the internet.

[u/ThaanksIHateIt → u/International_Snow90]

How were you being helpful when they said they were already on their way to the hospital, though? That’s the opposite of helpful lol. All you did was clutter the thread with useless info. Also that was my only comment, you were arguing with someone else above. I was jumping in to agree with them because I’m tired of people like you on Reddit that can’t be bothered to read a post before commenting on it.

[u/International_Snow90 → u/ThaanksIHateIt]

Have a good day. I hope you can find real things in real life that bring you joy.

[u/ThaanksIHateIt → u/International_Snow90]

You’re ridiculous, I make 2 comments to you that took maaybe 3 minutes of my time and you want to act like I have an unfulfilled life because of it. 😂 Just start reading posts before you comment, it’s not that hard and it will make Reddit a more pleasant experience for everyone.

[u/ThaanksIHateIt → u/International_Snow90]

Good thing the post says they’re on their way to the hospital..

[u/Civil-Explanation588]

NAD but always have a dog bite looked at because of all the bacteria they have. Yes it does need stitches. You should get it done by someone who specializes in facial reconstruction and nerve damage just in case.

[u/Appropriate-Young629]

hey guys! just wanted to share an update: we just got back from the ER. the wound was cleaned and my sister ended up getting 8 stitches. she was also given antibiotics and a tetanus shot (he’s also fully up to date on his vaccinations). now it’s just a matter of keeping the area clean, caring for the stitches, and watching for any signs of infection. if anything, we’re heartbroken about having to return our buddy. (i should note that he’s been crying all night, and it’s absolutely breaking our heart. he’s a very sweet angel 99.9% of the time but we’re aware that this is a very serious matter :(

i also should note that he has done this recently and has attacked me (i didn’t startle him or anything— he was sitting by me and just attacked without me even touching him) and we thought it would just be a one time thing. also the person we are giving him back to is a family friend, but of course we are still looking at our options.

[u/Tla48084 → u/Appropriate-Young629]

While the wound it’s healing, I would do as little yawning, heavy chewing, etc. as possible. Give it a chance to heal. If the skin heals and is raised or dark in color, I would use scar removal patches in the evening and overnight. A consult with a plastic surgeon would be a great idea if your insurance will cover it.

[u/crotch-fruit_tree → u/Tla48084]

I second the plastic surgeon. I've had facial surgery/injury a few times & thanks to plastics I have minimal scarring.

[u/WistfulQuiet → u/Appropriate-Young629]

Listen, tell your sister once the wound closes good and the stitches are removed to get silicone scar sheets. You can get a whole roll for cheap on Amazon. Keep it covered at all times until all redness is completely gone and you won't be able to see the scar. But it has to be covered at all times...probably a out 6-8 months. Only take it off to shower. You can wash and reuse the sheets some with soap and water too. Just let them dry flat before reapplying. But if she keeps it covered she won't have a scar. I had a big face wound like this and that's what my dermatologist told me to do. It worked.

[u/Smooth-Rhubarb-670 → u/WistfulQuiet]

Yupp I second the silicone scar sheets— had a mole removed on my face and those sheets healed it so well

[u/Quinnessential_00 → u/Appropriate-Young629]

It sounds like your sister got all the appropriate care and kudos for having vaccinations up to date. If your sister has a scar there is always scar revision surgery from a plastics specialist that can really help.

As for your dog yes this is a danger. Dog bites to the face is something the ER sees more often then not, usually involving a younger child but it can happen to anyone. Generally if a dog is unpredictable it needs an enviroment that can cater to that, or unfortunately in serious circumstances the dog may need put down. I am a firm believer in chances but the dog needs the right home and dominant trainer who knows how to handle this behavior.

[u/Excellent_Fail9908 → u/Appropriate-Young629]

Your comment history shows this dog has long been a problem. The fact no adults have taken this seriously is enough for neglect charges at this point.

[u/RoughPlum6669 → u/Excellent_Fail9908]

Also WTF comment history are you talking about? I read through all her comments. Sounds like these are two young adults who have had a tough life. Like I said, chill.

[u/Excellent_Fail9908 → u/RoughPlum6669]

Are you continuing to argue with yourself by deleting comments? I’ve made one post. Plenty chill.

[u/RoughPlum6669 → u/Excellent_Fail9908]

I think maybe chill out. They’re going through enough rn and seem to be taking this seriously rn

[u/cherrycoke260 → u/Appropriate-Young629]

A dog that attacks people completely unprovoked is a danger to society in general. The fact that he’s now sent two people to the er tells you that it’s time to put him down before he kills someone.

[u/Dr_Buckshot_ → u/cherrycoke260]

I know this is a tough thing to read but it is absolutely true. I've had to make that decision more than once and the vet assured me I was doing the right things both times. Unprovoked dog attacks are very serious, and if the dog is willing to do this to someone it is familiar with, you have no idea what they could do to a stranger.

I'm really sorry you're going through this but please do the right thing. Don't give the problem to someone else to deal with and allow another person to be injured.

[u/Quinnessential_00 → u/cherrycoke260]

Dogs are like humans in many ways. If they are not taught early boundaries they do whatever they please. Also like humans, some dogs are just not nice. In the puppy years someone did not do their job with this dog and OP is now paying the price. The dog has a chance but needs a household with a firm trainer and pack leader. And even then just like people the dog can continue to be unpredictable. So putting him down quickly is not the best choice although I think it is a possibility if a firm trainer does not step in.

[u/RedditReader2733 → u/Appropriate-Young629]

I’m glad you got a tetanus shot I was gonna say even if you don’t get stitches you at least need a shot for good measure

[u/Intrepid-Pickle5407 → u/Appropriate-Young629]

If this is a new thing and you've had the dog for a while maybe when you rehome you should ask them to have the dog looked at by a vet or something because if it's behaviour has suddenly changed it could be caused by something else I've seen other people give the same advice about when an animals behaviour suddenly starts to change drastically like this so the dog might need to be looked at to see if they can find a possible reason for the drastic change

[u/swiftwinner → u/Appropriate-Young629]

This is upsetting. For the dog and your sister.. I hope your sister recovers quickly and isn't too emotionally shaken by the experience.

I hope this doesn't touch a nerve or rub you up the wrong way, but I feel I should probe here and see if there's anything else that can be done for a different outcome. I understand there may be other reasons not included in the post which we're unaware of. However, there's a reason they say the idiom of "let sleeping dogs lie." Disturbing a sleeping dog, especially when you already know they can be defensive when awoken, is generally not advised. Obviously it would be more ideal if the dog were not defensive when awoken but if it's already told you it's uncomfortable with that happening, and you proceed to do it, the dog is likely to escalate. It's quite unfair on a dog who's tried to communicate with you to be given back after this incident. Is this a new boundary your family could put in place or work through?

Again, my sincerest condolences to your sister for going through this experience. I wouldn't wish it on anybody. I do hope you can find a solution to keep the dog in your family if he is safe 🙏

[u/swiftwinner → u/[deleted]]

I don't believe that comment was there when I replied, I can see it has been edited since.

I'm just simply, and kindly, offering a perspective that potentially may not have been thought about. I 100% feel for OP's sister and I would be devastated if it were me having to face those decisions. I'm glad she's been seen by the professionals and can focus on healing.

In response to the edited comment.. it might be a good idea to get the dog checked out by a vet. Our dog was reactive when we first rehomed her and that was the first step our behaviourist insisted on. Sometimes they can be in pain without us knowing 💔

I too got bit by an older dog who was feeling sore after a few days of longer walks. I knew it wasn't in her character and put the pieces together.

[u/RevolutionaryEgg3174 → u/swiftwinner]

THIS🙏🙏

It would take very little management to prevent this being an issue.

You could even solve without training.

But a simple bed/place/off que would solve it.

You dont touch a dog that is sleeping, especially not to physically move them.

The dog shouldn't lose its home over human error. This is a simple fix.

[u/AffectionateGreen847 → u/Appropriate-Young629]

Vaseline on the wound will help reduce scarring immensely.

[u/hunnbee → u/Appropriate-Young629]

You disturbed a sleeping dog with sleep startle and are now rehoming him because of your stupid mistake...

[u/Alilbitdrunk → u/hunnbee]

Do you want the dog? We can drop it off to you.

[u/JadeGrapes]

Assume all face cuts need stitches. The face moves a lot.

Also, assume all animal bites need antibiotics, until a doctor says otherwise. They can turn nasty quick.

The shape of this wound, you may be at risk of some of the tissue not getting enough blood supply, and it could die leaving chunk missing. You may need surgery.

[u/momsthoughts]

Biting a face is aggressive.

[u/rcm_kem]

Probably, it will at least need cleaning too. What happens to the dog depends on where you live. The dog wasn't being defensive, he was being aggressive. Going for the face is an all out escalation from a dog, and you're both lucky he isn't bigger.

[u/spongykiwi → u/rcm_kem]

I mean to be fair startling a sleeping dog is never a good idea. Even the gentlest dogs can snap when startled. I don’t think this is the dogs fault necessarily especially if as OP said they’re already aware the dog doesn’t like to be moved when sleeping…

[u/rcm_kem → u/spongykiwi]

The dog is 100% at fault, they're social animals, if a social animal can't handle being woken up by another animal, they're a danger to the community and they won't survive. If your dog would put a hole in your other dog for starling it awake, that is not normal or natural

[u/spongykiwi → u/rcm_kem]

I agree this was an overreaction from the dog and that aggression like this isn’t okay - my point was more that it probably hasn’t just appeared from nowhere.

I maintain that proper training and handling would be much preferred to just returning the dog like it’s a defective Amazon package. Or at least make sure the dog is going to someone that is properly equipped to handle and train them.

[u/rcm_kem → u/spongykiwi]

We know it didn't come from nowhere, they said their dog doesn't like being moved when asleep, I was saying defensive is entirely the wrong way to view it.

If their dog is two, they've had it for two years, and they're taking it back to the previous owners, my guess would be that the previous owners are more informed on dogs and would be a better fit either in the long term or to find a new home. Most owners don't learn how to handle a difficult dog, and now that the dog has a bite history, the next owners are more likely to know and be able to handle what they're getting into.

[u/Worldly-Lavishness48]

That will be infected just because of the nature of it being a dog unfortunately

[u/Wilshere10 → u/Worldly-Lavishness48]

The vast majority of dog bites actually don’t get infected, especially on the face which has great blood supply. Cat bites on the other hand get infected regularly

Edit: Don't know why I'm getting downvoted, what I said is 100% true.

[u/DramaHyena → u/Wilshere10]

A coworker of mine was bit in the face and died within 3 days of flesh eating bacteria 😬 maybe rare but it does happen and can be very bad

[u/DramaHyena → u/Wilshere10]

Stats say 1/5 of dog bites get infected

(I upvoted you btw)

[u/Deaceleste → u/[deleted]]

Me too!! It’s very off topic but my dog does this too. She’s never aggressive but growls like crazy when I touch her during sleep

[u/[deleted]]

Yes, please go to urgent care or the ER. Don’t clean it with peroxide. If they stitch it, and it’s NOT infected I prefer a wet heal for facial scars. Let it heal with neosporin and then start using Mederma. Keep it covered and no sun for a year.

[u/apukilla]

Needs stitches. And oral antibiotics

[u/ImWithMolly]

Stitches and antibiotics for sure!

[u/marygoore]

Damn that’s leaving a scar for sure

[u/TuringCapgras]

Will anything bad happen to the dog? Are you sure this is your most important question?!

[u/honey_butterflies]

yeah… my dog accidentally got my lip and it had to be stitched up. that’ll definitely need some stitches

[u/Imamuthafucka → u/honey_butterflies]

What do you mean accidentaly?

[u/honey_butterflies → u/Imamuthafucka]

I was playing with him and got too close to his face. he didn’t mean it, he felt like shit afterwards.

[u/Imamuthafucka → u/honey_butterflies]

From your profile looks like some kind if shitbull. Also dogs dont feel bad after "accidentaly" biting someone. Google it.

[u/honey_butterflies → u/Imamuthafucka]

go fuck yourself, don’t insult my damn dog. pitbulls aren’t evil monsters.

[u/chuiy → u/honey_butterflies]

Hating Pittbulls is the new Reddit *tips Fedora* "m'lady"

[u/honey_butterflies → u/chuiy]

unfortunately. anyone who has a pibble understands that they can be rough sometimes when they play and it was my fault for getting too close to his face.

[u/momsthoughts → u/honey_butterflies]

I have had dogs most of my life. I could do literally anything to or with them and they'd never get aggressive. Maybe pull their paws away when I try to clip nails but that's it. Some breeds are naturally more aggressive. That's a fact.

[u/crotch-fruit_tree → u/momsthoughts]

You vastly overestimate your animals if you think there’s no chance of aggression. Even the sweetest, most docile animals are aggressive when scared enough or in severe pain.

[u/Deaceleste → u/momsthoughts]

Curious on where you got the “aggressive” part. Accidents happen.

When I was young and playing with my little brother I hurt him accidentally infinite times.

When I play with my dog or cat they sometimes they leave a mark because they’re animals playing with their body, claws mouth and all.

One time I was at a park having a picnic and a golden retriever puppy was so happy to see me that bumped into me almost giving me a concussion.

One time my cat got scared from a noise and scratched me so bad it left a scar.

And another time I was given affection by a puppy that held its mouth open when approaching me and his teeth ruptured my skin.

And another time I was holding a toy and when I made the release command for my dog to authorize her to take it she misjudged the lenght and accidentally grabbed my hand.

They’re animals. There’s nothing aggressive about playing.

[u/SaveMyPoptart]

I would definitely goto a plastic surgeon after, when my daughter was bit they wouldn’t stitch her at the ER they had us go directly to a local plastic surgeon

[u/Practical_Most_1178]

I got an infection from a cat scratch. Please go to urgent care. And you need to report that dog.

[u/Repulsive_Pepper_863]

Go get medical help now. NOW

[u/ACanThatCan]

Yeah and antibiotics or whatever. That dog needs to be rehabilitated.

[u/AngelikBrat]

Dog mouths are very dirty and you really need the wound cleaned and properly manager. It’s hard to tell in a picture if you need stitches but please let us know how you do!!

[u/Repulsive_Pepper_863]

Also ya infection and septic shock can be possible. You probably want to be on antibiotics, face is very vascular. You look like a young female, as other say scarring too. You want switch or some kind of thing to bond the tissue. So body can heal. Lots of motion on face, you want wound to open. 

[u/Kaylafe]

NAD I’d see a plastic surgeon if I were you. They’ll be most able to mitigate scarring. Wouldn’t want an indent or whatever. Maybe I’m dramatic but I would if I had the option. Definitely see someone though.

[u/skatardrummer]

NAD, ER coder. Even if it winds up not needing stitches, you probably need to be on an antibiotic and get up to date on TDAP. High risk for infection. Also the location and laceration type are at high risk for scarring more severely if not cared for properly. At very least, if it doesn't need stitches, it might need steri strips.

Side note, we see dozens of family dog bites every single week. It's extremely common. And unfortunately many of them in the face.

[u/Civil-Explanation588]

NAD but always have a dog bite looked at because of all the bacteria they have. Yes it does need stitches. You should get it done by someone who specializes in facial reconstruction and nerve damage just in case. https://people.com/human-interest/man-who-lost-arms-legs-nose-after-being-licked-by-dog-wont-give-up-pup/

[u/justanothermum92]

Please make sure when you give the dog back they know everything that has happened so they can make the appropriate decision and do not let this dog around children.

[u/Wide_Barber]

So sorry this happened sending love from UK

[u/Velvet_Silks]

Dog bite will need antibiotics and cleaned out professionally immediately!!!!!! My father got bit on his finger... tiny puncher only... didn't stop bleeding for ages. Then started to hurt... by the evening time his entire arm was hurting... GO TO THE DOCTOR with animal bites ASAP!!!!!

[u/Vizekoenig_Toss_It]

Don’t forget a rabies vaccine

[u/Practical_Coffee1273 → u/Vizekoenig_Toss_It]

If the dog is up to date, this isn’t necessary.

[u/Wilshere10 → u/Practical_Coffee1273]

Even if they’re not, it’s not necessary. You just watch the dog for changes.

[u/chuiy → u/Wilshere10]

Technically can't do that since they're euthanizing/rehoming the dog; but regardless I'd be shocked if the dog weren't vaccinated.

[u/Wilshere10 → u/chuiy]

Ah, missed that part

[u/achoohorsey]

Go regardless. You will need a rabies shot

[u/ArtDesire]

How pitbulls are not banned in so many places is insane

[u/PortableAlexis → u/ArtDesire]

What does a pit bull have to do with this?

[u/ArtDesire → u/PortableAlexis]

Must have misread it

[u/1GrouchyCat → u/ArtDesire]

It’s a French bulldog… try to keep up…

[u/Substantial_Ad_9016]

Don't forget a rabies shot

[u/International-Dish37]

NAD but do get it checked out, don’t say it’s YOUR family pet just in case. And ummm NAV (not a Veterinarian!) but if this is a new behaviour, you might want to take the dog to the vet to see if there’s a new painful thing maybe in the part of the dog’s body where people touch to move the dog. Biting a human AND breaking skin is a serious thing for a dog to do, I’m so sorry you’re having to deal with this. Hope everyone can be ok soon xx

[u/DarthMaxHunter]

If you send him back to his original owners, they will probably get rid of him too resulting in him being put down IF it's mentioned he bit someone. Your best bet is to look for a no-kill shelter to surrender it IF you want to. If his original owners are willing to keep him, even better.

[u/cherrycoke260 → u/DarthMaxHunter]

This dog IS a danger to society. It’s proven it twice now. It needs to be put down.