If you ever get a dog bite...

[WholeLottaBoxers]

...don't let a doctor give you stitches. We learned the hard way.

My dad was giving treats to his dogs and his foster dog this past Wednesday. He knows that a foster dog is not supposed to be given treats outside of the crate, and he knows not to give his own dogs treats with a foster dog loose, but he didn't follow the rules and Lola (the foster) decided she wanted Gadol's treat and Gadol didn't feel like sharing. So a fight broke out and my dad got bit on the hand. He had three bite wounds, one that was fairly deep, and he went to an urgent care to have it treated. The doctor there stitched him up, told him to come back in two days if there were any problems, and send dad home WITHOUT prescribing any antibiotics.

Friday my dad returned to the urgent care and they sent him straight to the hospital emergency room. Turns out a dog bite should NEVER be stitched up, plus antibiotics should ALWAYS be prescribed. His hand was infected and the infection was traveling up into his arm. They admitted him to the hospital.

Since admission, he has had x-rays, all kinds of blood tests and cultures, an MRI, several rounds of IV antibiotics, he's been seen by an orthopedic doctor, an infectious diseases doctor, his cardiologist, all culminating in surgery this morning to drain the infection and flush the wounds. He will be in the hospital several more days, plus he will need physical therapy to regain the use of his right hand (which is his dominant hand to boot, and he's still suffering from nerve damage in his left hand from his heart surgery last December, so at this point he can't even feed himself).

Needless to say, we have a date with an attorney.

That was my weekend! How was everyone else's?

[Gypsiemouse]

Wow, hope your dad heels up okay.
My whole week has sucked.

[Laneysmom]

Oh, how awful for your poor Dad! I hope everything works out for him....

[kielbasavw]

So sorry to hear. I was actually at the ER for my father inlaw. He had an alergic hive attack at work, took benidril and was sent home, on the way home he had anothet alergic reaction to the bendril, started seeing white while driving, he pulled over got out of his car and passed out hit his head face first into the ground. Needed 3stitches and catscan.... hope everyone has a better week.

[Ril-Mas]

Sorry to hear. I hope he feels better soon.

[af_wx_wife]

Oh my gosh, I will keep your dad in my prayers.

[getgracie]

Wow!!! Even I know not to close up a dog bite wound!!! I can't believe they stitched him up! All he needed was to irrigate the wound, allow O2 and antibiotics! And then just keep it sterile. Dumb Doctor.

yes, an attorney is in order here.

[Tracilee014]

Oh no! I hope all goes well with your da. Keeping him in my thoughts...

[cadkids]

hope every thing goes ok and your dad gets better see my post to see how bad mine was

[Knucklehead]

Yikes! I hope Dad gets well soon!

Are you sure the Urgent Care stitcher was an M.D.?

Infection is the first thing that comes to anyone's mind with an animal bite wound. If that person is an actual M.D., they must have lowered the standards by an incredible amount.