Not sure where in my upbringing to blame more, Japan or the Midwest

[daystarsearcher]

For most of day, I seriously planned not ask my relatives if their dog had its rabies vaccinations up to date, because I didn't want them to know it had bitten me, because then they would be worried and probably make a big deal out of it and feel bad about it.

THEN I REALIZED THAT I WAS INSANE.

Edit: I apologize if the wording above was unclear,

Comments

[roseandheather]

As someone in the veterinary profession - OH MY GOD ASK RIGHT NOW. AND THEN GET YOUR ASS TO A HOSPITAL.

[daystarsearcher]

I asked my cousin, he said she had all her shots and gave me some disinfectant (I'd already washed it, but I did it again). I'm going to ask my aunt tomorrow (everyone's asleep right now) just to make sure there's not some sort of language barrier thing going on.

As for ass-to-hospital-getting...apparently getting over upbringing-induced insanity cannot be undone in one sitting, because every fiber of my being is going, "Nononononono, just wait till you get back to the States on Sunday, don't make them take you to a hospital when you're already inconveniencing them on such short notice..."

[roseandheather]

Would you like a graphic description of just how inconvenient you're going to be if you do get an infection? Bites are puncture wounds, and that drives bacteria much deeper into the skin than a shallow scrape. It's not quite as bad as a cat bite, but dog teeth are longer, too - and if any nasty bacteria get into your bloodstream, you will go into systemic shock and septaecemia and you really don't want to know how that will turn out. We're talking ICU-and-maybe-death here.

If you are going to act exactly like me, however - I haven't been to the ER in fourteen years, except for what I thought was an attack of acute appendicitis - find some sort of syringe and flush the wounds out with saline (saline for contacts works well) or water, and then soak it in hot water with Epsom salts dissolved in. That'll draw out the nasty stuff.

Listen to the nice vet tech student, dear - I've been through two dog bites in the last nine months. :D

[daystarsearcher]

The things you are saying are making sense. I know they are making sense. I am trying to pound them into my brain.

[auri_mynonys]

[daystarsearcher]

By the time I realized I was insane, the adults were asleep. My cousin says she has all her shots, but I'll tell my aunt tomorrow just in case.

*goes off to compulsively disinfect, wash, and soak hand again*

[auri_mynonys]

[roseandheather]

EPSOM SALTS. NOW.

And use that syringe! It's a puncture wound, you have got to irrigate that cavity out. You need the pressure flush, and a faucet won't do it.

[odd_evenstar]

Please tell them!

[daystarsearcher]

I told the one that was awake; I'll double-check tomorrow with the older ones to make sure I don't have a language barrier. It was cleaned right away, and I've been cleaning it throughout the day, most recently following as best I could the guidelines the vet tech in training above gave me.

Sorry I worried you with unclear wording.

[gorengal]

*hugs* *blows a mom kiss at your hand* I'm sure you'll be fine if it's a scrape vs. a puncture. You've cleaned and irrigated it several times...now put some antibiotic cream on it if possible or other disinfectant, bandage it and keep it clean and dry. If it starts to get red and puffy, seek treatment. *more hugs* Cocker spaniels are friendly to the family they live with, but they are extremely territorial, hence your bites.

Other than the dog bite, how has the trip been?

[daystarsearcher]

Mom kiss much appreciated! Sometimes you just need one of those. And the more I think about it, the more I think it's probably because I was leaning down to pet her, which she probably perceived as threatening. She was very chill before that, when I was sitting in a chair petting her.

The trip is mas or menos bien. Relatives stuffing me full of food, as relatives are wont to do. Trying to practice my Spanish, though most of them have better English than my Spanish (also, PR Spanish is very mumbly, and never hits the S's). Going to grave today, if we can find the flower place.