[Dog bites in children: what to do after the bite?]

Dog bites are a significant public health problem among children. Primary prevention is important. A majority of the dog bites in children are in or around there own house and/or by a family dog. Therefore, parents should be educated how to handle dog and child. The consequences of dog bites can be dramatic, with on the long term scars, disability and posttraumatic stress disorder. Next to medical treatment it should be well considered if the safety of the child and society are endangered. All involved caregivers, as child health care practitioners and the family doctor, can be consulted to answer this question. Child Protection Services can be consulted if there may be safety issues of the child. Furthermore, it is important to consider behavioral examination of the dog. In the Netherlands, this can be done after reporting the matter to the police or on the initiative of the municipality.