Dogs are lovable animals that commonly gives companion, strength, and protection from any fear. But, when things go out of hand, and a random aggressive dog attacks you, it can be a hazardous situation. You can consult an expert if you have extreme fear of dogs, cats, or other reasons other than pets or animals. Professional psychologists advise patients, whether you’re an adult, senior, or have kids with various explanations of fear. How do you handle anxiety after a kid is attacked by a dog? If you’re a parent and had a similar experience with your child, it may be best to have a mental health expert talk to your kid about their feelings.
Why Do Dogs Become Aggressive?
Owning a pet can be a great way to help your kid grow and introduce them to responsibilities. Alongside any pet, it is the family’s role to guide their kid in gaining confidence. But, having a pet can also have its disadvantages. Dogs can become aggressive with unpredictable reasons. Yet, veterinarians say that aggression originates from dominance in territory, possessiveness, illness, fear, or frustration. If you want to avoid aggressive dogs, it is best to avoid direct eye contact and teach your pets to behave outside and inside your home. Moreover, kids can develop mental health concerns if you don’t deal with their fears correctly.
How Should A Parent Handle A Kid Attacked By A Dog?
According to statistics per year, younger children, specifically a boy, have more cases of dog attack than a girl. Every year, children are mauled by an aggressive boy dog by 4.5 million in the US alone. You may have heard of the news regarding a boy named Bridger Walker who acted as a hero by saving his sister from an attacking dog. The boy who saved his sister had multiple stitches after bites from protecting his little sister. Dog attacks are always unexpected, so any emergency such as a kid attacked by a dog must have a careful analysis and approach.
Don’t Let Your Child Move
According to veterinarians and dog experts, aggressive dogs are more likely to attack your kid if they aren’t calm. Dogs don’t like boring, stagnant, unmoving people like a tree. A dog will most likely try to tear off the skin of the person being attacked if he or she retaliates.
Call An Animal Rescue And 911 (Emergency Hotline)
Children accompanied by a sister or any family member should call for help from injuries or accidents. An emergency hotline for every country can provide immediate support on your kid attacked by a dog. The police and EMS (emergency medical services) will contact an animal rescue team to help them lure the dog away from your kid. Hence, it may be best always to be prepared for injuries, accidents, and emergencies in saving your child.
Clean The Wound Immediately
A fresh wound needs immediate cleaning to stop bacteria from infecting the site. Children attacked by a dog need to use soap and wash it with water as fast as possible. It is also essential to have an antibacterial or antiseptic to cover the wound to prevent further health problems immediately.
If Bitten By A Dog, Go To The Nearest Animal Bite Clinic
After rinsing the wound and applying an antiseptic, go to the nearest hospital or animal bite clinic. It may also be best to ask the police or EMS to guide you to these clinics so that you can treat your kid attacked by a dog as fast as you can. If your kid has injuries in his lips and mouth you should also consult a dental expert.
Psychological Help After A Dog Attack
Overcoming fear can be challenging. Especially, young kids are more vulnerable in fear ad a dog attack may lead to trauma. Before the event turns into a year or two, your child must address the psychological fear of dogs. It is crucial to learn from lessons like what happened to Bridger Walker and turn it into memories to ponder on in life. Children need to have a positive perception of dogs. Handling fear can put a positive remark on a person’s mental health. Here are our suggestions to help your child recover psychologically from a recent dog attack.
- Talk about their feelings and support their emotional needs
You may start by talking to your child and comforting them about the previous situation. Sometimes, kids can’t express their feelings by talking. Hence, you may want to introduce arts, drawing, music, and other visual representations for better learning.
- Seek professional counseling for the treatment
Even children need professional medical advice to address their fears, anxiety, stress, and depression. Mental health issues can destroy communications, relationships, and understanding of families no matter what year it is. Parents that are open to counseling may help the kid regain confidence faster.
- Slowly reintroduce dogs
Psychological triggers can make people do a fight or flight situation. However, young children need to face dogs again by trying to see the brighter side. Make sure that you’re visiting foster animal care or a nonprofit organization that rescues animals. These people can slowly help your child conquer their fear of a dog attack. Furthermore, if you plan to get a puppy, ensure that you can train and discipline your pet.
