Sometimes even a nip from a trusted pet can develop into a serious medical situation that can potentially threaten one’s life. Such was the case for 55-year-old UK resident Steven Sewell during a vacation in the Scottish Highlands with his wife, son, and two dogs in May.
While playing a game of catch with the dogs, Judy – a half-blind Alsatian-Doberman mix – accidentally bit Sewell’s finger as it was lunging for a stick he was holding.
Despite the bite being large enough go to the bone of his hand, Sewell made no immediate attempt to sanitize the wound and later patched it up with sticking plaster after not finding any antiseptic.
Approximately six days later Sewell began feeling hot and experiencing odd dreams before suffering from diarrhea and the loss of feelings in his fingers. After going to a hospital it was determined that the wound had become infected and led to encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain.
He died on May 31.
According to WebMD, any dog bite should be immediately cleaned carefully with soap and water and treated with a clean towel to stop any bleeding. A trip to the doctor is also important for any bite to ensure that no infection occurs while also checking to make sure the dog did not have rabies.
For families who are not currently covered by any health insurance, payday loans can provide the quick cash to pay for any hospital visits that result from a dog bite.
