Do I have to report a bite even if my dog knows the injured person?

Yes, the relationship does not change the procedure. The notification to the veterinary service arises from the injury, not the circumstances, and usually goes out automatically from the facility treating the person. Your job is to make the dog available for observation and provide its vaccination history. Trying to settle it privately, without involving the health authority, exposes you to far more serious consequences than the nuisance of a case file.

Will my dog be taken away during observation?

In the great majority of cases, no. Observation takes place at home, with one or two vet visits, while the animal stays with you under supervision. Admission to a facility applies only in particular situations, for example when there is no guarantee of adequate custody or when the animal is a stray. Presenting yourself as cooperative and reachable is the best way to have the observation carried out in the least intrusive form.

How long does the procedure last and when can I consider it closed?

The observation period generally runs for ten days from the date of the bite. The case is considered closed when the veterinary service certifies, at the end of observation, that the animal is healthy. Keep that document: it is proof that everything was done properly and you will need it if a dispute surfaces later. Civil consequences, meaning any compensation, follow their own timeline, independent of the health case.

What happens if I do not present the dog for observation?

Avoiding observation is a breach with penalties, and it turns a manageable episode into a serious problem. The veterinary service has a duty to check the animal, and a lack of cooperation can trigger stronger measures. If you have a real difficulty, for example a commitment that takes you away from home, the answer is to flag it and agree an alternative, not to disappear.

Documents and paperwork35 minLevel: IntermediateUpdated on August 20, 2026

Reporting a dog bite and handling the health observation period

What to do after a dog bite: emergency care, notifying the health authority, the rabies observation period and the paperwork worth keeping afterwards.

Audience: Pet owners
Species: Dog
Scope: Valid everywhere, Italy, European Union

What you need before you start

I dati identificativi del cane coinvolto, cioè numero di microchip, nome e recapiti del proprietario
Il libretto sanitario con la data dell'ultima vaccinazione antirabbica, se effettuata
Un recapito del servizio veterinario della ASL di competenza, che trovi sul sito dell'azienda sanitaria
Foto della ferita e delle circostanze, utili sia alla pratica sanitaria sia a un'eventuale questione assicurativa

A bite that breaks the skin sets two parallel tracks running, and people often confuse them: treating the wound, and a public health procedure that concerns the animal. The second track exists for one reason, rabies prevention, which is why it starts even when the dog is vaccinated and familiar. Many owners meet it for the first time at the worst possible moment, with an injured person to look after and their mind elsewhere. This guide lines up the steps as they usually work in Italy and much of Europe, clarifies who must notify whom, explains how the observation period works, and lists the documents worth keeping so you are not caught out weeks later, when the case comes knocking again.

When a bite becomes an official case

Not every contact with teeth starts a procedure. The practical dividing line is the injury: if the skin is broken and someone attended an emergency room or a clinic, the notification to the veterinary public health service usually goes out automatically, because the treating facility sends it. The dog's owner, though, is not a bystander: there is a duty to stay reachable and to present the animal for observation.

The bite injured a person and broke the skin, even a small wound: the notification starts from the facility that provides care.
The bite injured another animal: assessment still falls to the veterinary service, which decides whether to open an observation.
The dog bit in a work or boarding context, for example a kennel or a breeder: the duties of whoever had the animal in their care are added.
The dog is unowned or stray: the case gets tangled with capture and the registry, and the timeline stretches out.

The first steps in the first hours

The first hours matter more than they seem, because that is when you gather information that later becomes hard to recover. The right order holds together the injured person, identifying the dog and contacting the health authority.

See to the person's wound first
Wash with soap and water, apply pressure if it bleeds and consider a trip to the emergency room. A bite that breaks the skin almost always needs a medical assessment, which will decide on antibiotics, tetanus cover and prophylaxis.
Exchange details as you would after a road accident
Note the name and contacts of the other dog's owner or the person, and give yours. Take the microchip number: it is the one identifier that leaves no room for dispute.
Photograph the wound, the place and the animals involved
Dated photos capture what happened and how badly better than any description given days later, and they matter if an insurance or legal question surfaces afterwards.
Contact the veterinary public health service
If the notification has not already gone out from the emergency room, call the relevant veterinary service yourself. They set the timing and the form of the animal's observation.
Find the record book and the rabies date
You will be asked about the dog's vaccination history. Having the date of the last rabies shot and the product name to hand avoids callbacks and delays.
Log the event in one place
Gather photos, contacts, the case number and appointments into one digital folder. In the following weeks you will be asked for details you will not recall from memory.

How the health observation works

The heart of the procedure is the observation period, generally ten days from the bite. It serves to confirm that the animal is still alive and healthy at the end of it, a condition that rules out rabies transmission in that bite. In most cases observation happens at home, with check up visits by the vet, and only in particular situations does it call for admission to a facility.

Typical elements of the health observation after a bite. Exact form and timing are decided by the veterinary public health service and can vary between regions.
Element	How it usually works	Whose responsibility
Duration	About 10 days from the date of the bite	Binding on the owner
Location	The home in most cases	Owner, unless told otherwise
Visits	One at the start and one at the end, sometimes one in between	Veterinary public health service
The dog's movements	Limited, on a lead and under constant watch	Owner
Outcome	The case closes if the animal is healthy at the end	Veterinary public health service

Documents to keep and where liability sits

The health case closes with a favourable observation result, but the fallout from a bite can run on longer. A compensation claim or a dispute can arrive months later, when memories have faded and evidence has scattered. Keeping a few key documents protects you.

The report or the case number opened by the veterinary service, with the dates of the visits.
The observation closure certificate, which attests the favourable result.
The injured person's medical records, if shared with you, useful if a claim is made.
A copy of your civil liability policy and the notice of claim, if one is required.
The photos and message exchanges gathered on the day of the bite, ordered by date.

If your own animal was the one bitten

The picture flips when your dog is the one bitten by another animal. Here the wound is a veterinary matter and the paperwork protects you, not just public health. The steps are similar but with extra care for the clinical record.

Have the wound assessed by a vet even if it looks small: a bite always carries a higher risk of deep infection than it appears.
Ask the other dog's owner for proof of rabies vaccination and their contact details.
Keep the estimate and the invoice for treatment, since they are the basis of any compensation claim.
Report the episode to the veterinary service if the skin was broken, so the other animal goes into observation.
Note your dog's behaviour in the following days: a fright can leave after effects that are best handled early.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to report a bite even if my dog knows the injured person?: Yes, the relationship does not change the procedure. The notification to the veterinary service arises from the injury, not the circumstances, and usually goes out automatically from the facility treating the person. Your job is to make the dog available for observation and provide its vaccination history. Trying to settle it privately, without involving the health authority, exposes you to far more serious consequences than the nuisance of a case file.
Will my dog be taken away during observation?: In the great majority of cases, no. Observation takes place at home, with one or two vet visits, while the animal stays with you under supervision. Admission to a facility applies only in particular situations, for example when there is no guarantee of adequate custody or when the animal is a stray. Presenting yourself as cooperative and reachable is the best way to have the observation carried out in the least intrusive form.
How long does the procedure last and when can I consider it closed?: The observation period generally runs for ten days from the date of the bite. The case is considered closed when the veterinary service certifies, at the end of observation, that the animal is healthy. Keep that document: it is proof that everything was done properly and you will need it if a dispute surfaces later. Civil consequences, meaning any compensation, follow their own timeline, independent of the health case.
What happens if I do not present the dog for observation?: Avoiding observation is a breach with penalties, and it turns a manageable episode into a serious problem. The veterinary service has a duty to check the animal, and a lack of cooperation can trigger stronger measures. If you have a real difficulty, for example a commitment that takes you away from home, the answer is to flag it and agree an alternative, not to disappear.

What to do next

After a bite that breaks the skin see to the injured person first, then exchange details and photograph everything, and let the notification to the veterinary service go out or start it yourself. Present the dog for the ten day observation without moving it, keep the closure certificate and the documents from the day of the bite, and check your civil liability cover before you ever need it.