Bulldog Bite

“On the evening of November 15, 2011, while spending a quiet evening at home with my husband and two English Bulldogs (Audie and Biggs), there was a disagreement between the two bulldogs.
I was sitting on the couch with Audie, who at the time was playing with a chew toy. My other bulldog Biggs wanting some attention, jumped on the couch beside me. At this time I had two 80 pound bulldogs sitting on each side of me. Within seconds Audie decided that Biggs was too close and a threat to her and her chew toy. A fight between the two bulldogs suddenly ensued on my lap, as I tried to protect my self and stop the fight. My left hand was severely bitten. I had two serious wounds that both required stitches and sustained bone bruises of several of the bones of my hand. Being a Registered Nurse for nearly 20 years I immediately knew that I needed medical attention.

My husband and I having re-established peace in the home, then immediately left for the local hospital ER. Upon arrival, the medical and nursing staff cleaned and stitched my wounds. I was given an intramuscular antibiotic shot and a prescription of oral antibiotics to begin the next day. My wounds where wrapped with a gauze dressing and I was sent home. My hand was very painful during the night and by morning I had severe redness and swelling in the hand and wrist. Throughout that day the swelling and pain got worse and the redness began to move up my arm. I knew that the infection was becoming worse and moving up the tissues of my arm, from the bacteria of the dog’s mouth.

On the second day after the initial bite, the redness, swelling and pain was severe enough that I made an appointment to see the doctor that afternoon. The doctor changed my oral antibiotic and said that if the infection grew worse over the next several days I would need to be admitted to the hospital and started on IV antibiotics. By the end the second day (post bite), the swelling and pain were so severe I could not open and close my hand and could barely move my fingers.

It was at this time that one of my co-workers, who is also a close friend, suggested that I try some medicinal charcoal. My friend had spent some time in the mission fields of Haiti and had been exposed to some of the benefits of charcoal being used as a poultice to help fight and cure infection. I was somewhat apprehensive at first, having never been a real fan of natural remedies, but decided at this time I was desperate enough to give it a try. We contacted a friend that we knew had some medicinal charcoal and he was generous enough to give us what I needed. 

My friend that gave me the charcoal also gave me a very easy description of how to make and apply a poultice to my hand and arm. I applied it that evening and throughout the night. During the night I could literally feel the swelling go down in my hand and by the next morning (3rd day post bite) the redness was 90% gone in my hand and completely gone from my arm. The pain was much more tolerable and I could now move my fingers. I continued to use the charcoal poultices for a total of four days. By the end of the fourth day the swelling and signs of infection were gone and life had returned for the most part back to normal.

As a Registered Nurse I have always placed a lot of value on medicine and doctors, but with this recent experience, I have learned that sometimes the simple things (charcoal) that God has placed within the reach of all, may be our best course of action. Beside the clear evidence of charcoal’s effectiveness, it saved me and my insurance possibly thousands of dollars, that a short stay in the hospital for IV antibiotics would have cost.
Sincerely,
Cendy

South Dakota