The majority of dog bites will be minor wounds you can treat at home. If the bite barely broke the skin or the teeth dragged to form a shallow scratch, then you can treat the wound at home. This differs from a wound where the tissue is deeply punctured, torn, or joints/bones have been crushed. Always seek medical attention for these wounds, which are covered more in Method Two. Spend several minutes washing the bite with plenty of soap and water at a comfortable temperature. This helps clean the wound of any germs around your wound or that came from the dog's mouth. Any soap is fine, but an antibacterial soap is best if you have some in your home. The soap and water might sting the site of the bite, but it's still a much better idea to wash the area thoroughly. Use a clean towel or gauze to apply pressure to the bite if it is still bleeding after washing it. The bleeding should stop or slow enough to bandage the wound within several minutes. If the wound continues bleeding too much to bandage it after fifteen minutes of pressure, then you should seek medical attention. Antibiotic creams such as Neosporin or Bacitracin can also help prevent infections as the wound heals. Apply the cream to the wound as directed on the packaging. As soon as you apply the antibiotic ointment, bandage or dress the wound appropriately. Apply with enough pressure to help protect the injury, but do not apply with so much pressure as to affect circulation or lead to discomfort. You should change the bandage on the bite each time you soil it, such as when showering. Wash the bite again gently, reapply the antibiotic cream, and apply a fresh bandage. Tetanus is a potential infection that can stem from any dog bite that breaks the skin. Medical professionals recommend a tetanus booster after a dog bite if your last immunization was five or more years ago. Watch for signs of other infection as the bite heals. If you think the bite is becoming infected, then see a doctor immediately. Signs that an infection might be developing in the bite include: Worsening pain Swelling Redness or warmth around the bite Fever Pus-like discharge Rabies is another possible infection you can get from even a minor dog bite. Those bitten by dog's often know the dog that bit them and can verify that the dog has previously received a rabies vaccination, in which case rabies is not a concern. If the dog's vaccine status is uncertainsuch as if the dog was a straythe dog should be observed for fifteen days (if possible) to see if it develops signs of rabies. You should also seek professional medical assistance if you can't verify the vaccination status of the dog. Even for minor bites, some health-related complications mean you should still seek medical attention. These other conditions include: Diabetes Liver disease Cancer HIV Medications that can weaken the immune system, such as those taken for autoimmune disorders.

Summary: Examine the bite. Wash the bite thoroughly with soap and water. Apply pressure if the wound is bleeding. Apply an antibiotic ointment. Bandage the bite. Change the bandage as necessary. Update your immunizations. Keep an eye on the bite. Determine the rabies vaccine status of the dog, if possible. Seek medical attention for other health-related complications.

If you have particularly dry hair, you may need daily oiling. For example, many African Americans with natural hair find daily oiling beneficial. It increases the hair's moisture and shine. Don't apply oil to the scalp every day. The scalp produces its own oils, so the hair closest to it is usually fairly healthy. Applying extra oil on a daily basis might hurt more than it helps by causing oily hair at the roots. Apply a thin layer of oil to the shafts of your hair, focusing on the tips. The oil from your scalp works its way from the root down to the tip of your hair. It's a longer trip for people with long hair, though, so the ends are often dry and brittle. Curly hair also tends to dry out at the bottom because the curls and kinks stop oil from working down the strands. Don't over-oil your hair if you're applying it on a daily basis. You hair should not be completely saturated. You don't want to walk around with flat, greasy hair all the time! Once a week or once every two weeks, you should do a deep-conditioning mask treatment with your oil. Saturate your hair with the oil. For daily oiling, you might just use a light coating of oil, but for a leave-in treatment, you want your hair thick with it. Tie your hair up into a bun. This will protect the shoulders and back of your clothing from the oil. Cover your hair with a shower cap if you'd like. This is especially useful if you don't have a plastic cover for your pillowcase. If you don't use a shower cap, cover your pillow with either a vinyl case or with two layers of old towels to protect it from oil stains. Leave the oil in for at least eight hours, or until you take a shower the next day. Many find that dry, brittle hair benefits most from oiling when the oil is applied to damp hair. Apply a base oil in place of your normal conditioner twice a week, immediately after you've rinsed the shampoo from your hair. Shampoo strips the hair of its natural oils, leaving it dry. This is a good time for a moisture boost. Shampoo and apply the oil as soon as you begin your shower. Let the oil soak into your hair for the rest of your shower, as you go on with the rest of your shower routine. Try to leave the oil in from 5-10 minutes. Placing a shower cap over your hair to protect it from the water will help prevent washing it out before you're ready. Be careful applying oil in the shower. When you rinse it out of your hair, the tub can get very slippery.
Summary: Oil your hair lightly for daily treatment. Use the oil as a leave-in conditioner. Oil particularly brittle hair when it's damp.