Dog Bite Scars

Dog bite wounds can be difficult to treat and often leave disfiguring scars. Dog bite scars can be caused by deep punctures, gaping wounds, and tissue destruction.

Approximately 1,000 people are treated in emergency rooms every day as a result of dog bites. Most of the victims requiring medical attention are children, half of whom are bitten on the face.

Plastic surgeons often treat dog attack victims. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, in 2010 nearly 33,000 reconstructive surgeries were performed on dog bite victims. The face is the most frequently bitten area of the body – over 77 percent of dog bite injuries are to the face, including lips, nose and cheeks. Many dog bite victims require multiple reconstruction surgeries to minimize scars.

Many dog bite wounds produce keloid scars, which are particularly disfiguring and difficult to treat.

Scars can be extremely traumatizing and can result in great embarrassment and humiliation. Because most dog bite victims have scars on the most visible body parts – their face and neck – they are much more likely to suffer emotionally. Also, since children account for most dog bite attacks, they are required to live with the physical and emotional scars for many years, including the difficult adolescent years when self-image and conformity are enormously important.