+1 for plastic surgeon! Time to channel your inner Karen.

1/4 inch is very big when it's in the face. There are a lot of muscles on the face and you want it stitched properly.

Will the dog need to be put down?

Yeah a friend's kid got cellulitis like this. Go to ER.

Yes! Dogs can harbor a ronin bacteria. And on the face? No question I’d go to ER.

If it’s a true puncture, even a small one, get antibiotics asap as well. That would be my primary concern right now. Bacteria from the dogs mouth often gets in through the wound and that can be doubly awful.

Yes er now and demand plastic surgeon. For us if the surgeon came to the ER it was covered by the insurance. If we had left and gone to his office the next day as was suggested by the ER staff it would not have been covered.
The wound looked small but many layers so many layers of stitches were needed.

Go to the ER at Children's, or if not in the DC area, to a Children's hospital in your area. Children's hospitals are more likely to have a full complement of pediatric specialists on staff and available.

Our son split his lip and we had no wait for a plastic surgeon at our Children's ER.

Anonymous wrote:Dog just bit daughter- it’s 1/4 inch gash pretty small- but deep- on face- we aren’t sure to go to ER for stitches and if we do, my mom neighbor thinks we can demand a plastic surgeon?
Anyone know criteria for stitches- and if one can request plastic surgeon?

A similar thing happened to my neighbor. Another neighbor who happens to be a Dr. advised them to go to ER and demand the plastic surgeon. The ER Dr pushed back but the family insisted. They had to wait a long time but it was the right call. No scar or mark on the face.

I'm sorry, OP! Is this your dog and are they current on rabies vaccination? This is the first concern. Second is plastic surgeon.

If it’s only a 1/4 inch, I would wait until the morning then start calling plastic surgeons offices and see where you can bring her in.

They might not provide you with a plastic surgeon in the ER, even if you demand one, unfortunately.

Good luck.

This sounds terrible. I hope she’s ok. I’m sorry this happened.

You can request, but one may not be available.

Yes, go. On the face like that I'd definitely go. You can request a plastic surgeon, but you could have a really long wait. (My sister goes relatively often because her 4 boys play hockey. Plastic surgeon gave her his cell phone to call and arrange a time for fixing!)

Dog just bit daughter- it’s 1/4 inch gash pretty small- but deep- on face- we aren’t sure to go to ER for stitches and if we do, my mom neighbor thinks we can demand a plastic surgeon?
Anyone know criteria for stitches- and if one can request plastic surgeon?