Bitten By A Dog

I arrived to work at 12:30ish and started working on the 1st dog which is a small poodle mix. On the file paper said to be careful with the sore eye. I decided to give him a shave before the bath since it's very matted. I opened the cage and pat his head. Then I reach into take him, but he bit my left index finger quite hard. My finger felt beaten up, red and throbbing. I exam my finger and there's a small break skin which I think is no biggie.

I sighed and remind myself that some dogs are just odd fear bitter when it comes to taking them out of cage. If you try take him out of cage by hand you'll get bitten. If you slip on the leach/rope on the neck and lead him out and pick him up, he's harmless. I did just that and took him to the table. I sat on the chair and shave him up. I was going to adjust him, as in to turn him around, by lifting his chest/neck and move him, but he snapped at my hand. He grab my index and middle finger with his teeth.

I have been bitten many times before which rarely breaks the skin or hurts bad enough. But this kind of bite was not a bite, it was more like trying to chew my finger off! It took me a moment to finally freed my hand from his jaws. I was bleeding rapidly. I grabbed the paper towel and grab a hold on my finger. I got Cayla's attention that I'm bleeding. I started pacing around, trying to hold my hand up to slow down the bleeding. My body was in shock. I was like trying to breath deeply and trying to calm down. Then I sat back down on the chair. The large 1st aid box was set and open on the table. The guy whom I do not know start to tend my finger. Then I felt myself becoming pale and I became really light-headed. I tried to recovery by leaning forward over my legs, but it does not work. When the guy finish tending my finger, I lie down on the floor. I felt better, but my body was still in shock.

Cayla told me that she called the owner to come over to help get the muzzle on and she'll do the grooming and take care of few of my dogs, and I can go ahead go home. When I believe I'm okay enough to drive home, I left work. By the time I drove on I-15 highway for a while, the shock subside and the pain appeared. It made me preferred to be shock than to feel the pain. It was bearable, but unpleasant.

I arrived home and greeted Scott and DJ by showing them my injured hand. There's a trail of blood down my palm that was not washed off at work. I told them what happened. I took the bloody band aid off to wash the wound. It somehow got me in shock again. Scott and I pour the alcohol over the dog bite three times, then put on the clean new band aid. Lynette came over and tried hard not to gross out over my wound tale. But I asked if I needed to have stitches. Lynette who seem to have more experiences on wounds (she's a farmer) took a look and encouraged me to get it stitched up. We expressed concerned about budget, no medical insurance.

Lynette looked up online for free clinics in the area. Scott, DJ and I went out to try the one in Provo. But it turned out to be the wrong one. The gal gave us a card that listed the three clinic that can take care of those types of injures. There's one in Orem. We went over there.

We got in after 7:30ish. I filled out the papers and the waiting was only a few minutes. After quick questioning and check up, the Doctor who is red-headed and very nice took me to the other room. (Scott stayed with me the whole time.) I was very nervous, feeling like it'll be my first time getting stitches. It wasn't till later I realized I already had stitches before: my "wound" on my belly. Anyways, the doctor got my hand and finger clean up a bit then gave me two numb shots.

I told Scott that I like to have some distraction during the shot, so he did his best to do that by asking me math question. (I talked a mile when I'm nervous, so I couldn't help but saying whatever I feel or thinking.) When the 1st needle goes in, it oddly felt good. I was like talking outloud about how good it feels, feels so nice. Then I started laughing. The doctor poke in the second needle which this time doesn't feel quite as nice. I was like talking quickly about how it feels like the needle was going THROUGH my hand. Then I laugh again, just laughing at myself, feeling silly. When the two needles got out, I calmed down.

The finger began to swell slowly and started to feel like it's dying, numbed up. I had to poke that finger a few times because of curiosity and it felt so weird and stiff. While a few minutes of waiting, the nurse cleaned up my finger some more by squirting water on my wound. Then finally the doctor returned and sat down with the tools ready.

The doctor picked up the cloth that's soak with special soap. He dabbed my wound and look at him questioningly. I was like I don't feel a thing. He scrub up my wound quite deeply which caused it be bleeding. Scott was like, "why is he doing that? Trying to rip up your skin." I assured him that he's just doing some deep cleaning. Then finally, the doctor got the "sewing" tools ready.

At 1st I didn't want to watch it, tried to pay attention to Scott, but for some reason it wasn't helping. So I end up talking to the Doctor who asked me how long I work as a dog groomer and if I've been bit before, etc. I was surprised to see that it only takes two stitches, not three or four. Because my finger felt very dead or felt like it's not part of me, I can manage watching him stitching up the second knot and I can exam my finger closely. When it's all done, I asked the doctor if I can work next day since I have four dogs scheduled. He gave me a doctor note, asking me to have day off. He told me to keep my finger clean and dry for 7 days. The nurse wrapped up my finger with interesting bandages, which I am to leave it on for one day. I also got a prescription for the pills to prevent infection.

I went up front the desk to pay but the lady let me pass. Scott and DJ and I went to Walgreen to pick up the pills. Then we returned home. Scott and I changed the clothes into something nice and went to Olive Garden for "late" 4th month of marriage. It was nice to eat and relax there.

I am ready to go to sleep and I get some rest. Good Night. Hope you enjoyed my eventful moment from work. (Yes, I typed pretty good without my left index finger.)