Dog bites carry the potential for infection, so antibiotics are a necessity.
When a person gets bitten by a dog, certain steps should be taken. One of those steps is to get an antibiotic into the bitten person's system in time to help fight the from all of the bacteria that can be found in the dog's mouth.
Creams and Sprays
If a dog bite is shallow or not particularly long (such as an accidental bite during play), general antibiotics such as creams and sprays found in first aid kits should be enough to help prevent infection. It's important that you rinse the bite with cold water first, though, to flush out any saliva and other debris. Dry the bite site, then apply the general antibiotic.
Amoxicillin
If a dog bite is fairly deep, or if it is already infected because enough care wasn't taken when it was first received, then the patient will likely need to take some oral antibiotic medication. Amoxicillin is a general antibiotic that can be used to fight infection in dog bites and other wounds. Generally speaking a person will have to take one amoxicillin tablet every 4-6 hours (with food if possible).
Tetracycline
Some patients who won't be able to take amoxicillin or any of its relatives in the penicillin family because of a drug allergy. Tetracycline, which includes other derivative drugs doxycycline and minocycline, is the antibiotic that's typically given to adult victims of dog bites who can't take penicillin. There are some conditions, such as pregnancy or medication combinations, that need to be taken into account by doctors when assigning this particular family of antibiotics.
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