Three Family Members at Urgent Care.

The new puppy has been home for one week.

Your daughter has scratches up and down her arms. Your son has a bite mark on his hand that’s looking puffy and red. And you? You’ve got a puncture wound from breaking up their “tug of war” that the puppy thought included your fingers.

Nobody told you this part of pet ownership.

Why Animal Bites Get Infected So Easily

Here’s the truth: animal mouths are bacteria factories.

Dogs, cats, puppies, kittens – their saliva contains dozens of types of bacteria. When they bite or lick an open wound, those bacteria get pushed deep into your tissue.

The result? Infection. And animal bite infections can get serious fast.

Infection rates by animal:

• Cat bites: 30-50% infection rate (high!)
• Dog bites: 10-20% infection rate
• Human bites: Actually the highest risk—but that’s another blog

Signs of Infection You Can’t Ignore

Come to Night Watch immediately if the bite or scratch shows:

• Redness spreading from the wound
• Red streaks going up the arm or leg
• Swelling, warmth, or increased pain
• Pus or drainage from the wound
• Fever
• Difficulty moving the affected area
• Swollen lymph nodes

These are signs your body is fighting an infection – and may be losing.

⏰ Time Matters

Here’s what people don’t realize: the sooner you get treatment, the better.

Within 8 hours of injury: Wound can be thoroughly cleaned, greatly reducing infection risk. May be able to close with stitches.

After 8 hours: Infection risk increases. May need to leave wound open. Antibiotics almost always needed.

After 24+ hours: If untreated, infection may have already started. Requires aggressive treatment.

Don’t wait. Come in the same day you’re bitten.

🐾 High-Risk Bites

Some bites are higher risk than others:

Hand Bites

Highest infection risk. Lots of small spaces for bacteria to hide. Close to tendons, joints, and bones. Always need medical evaluation.

Face Bites

Risk of scarring, nerve damage, and infection. Need immediate care.

Puncture Wounds

Look small on the surface but push bacteria deep into tissue. High infection risk. Often from cat bites.

Bites Through to Bone/Joint

Can cause bone or joint infection (osteomyelitis, septic arthritis). Serious. Need immediate treatment.

Treatment at Night Watch

We treat animal bites and scratches for all ages:

• Thorough wound irrigation (high-pressure cleaning to flush out bacteria)
• Examination for deep tissue damage
• X-rays if needed (to check for bone involvement)
• Stitches or wound closure (depending on type/location)
• Preventive antibiotics (especially for high-risk bites)

Preventing the Next Bite

• Supervise all pet interactions with children
• Start training immediately (puppy classes, bite inhibition)
• Don’t let pets mouth or play-bite people
• Keep kitten nails trimmed
• Redirect biting to appropriate toys
• Teach children to respect pet boundaries

New pets are adorable, infected animal bites are not. Get it treated before it gets serious.

When Holiday Leftovers Turn Into a Family Health Crisis

You hosted the holiday gathering. The food was delicious. Everyone had seconds. Some people took leftovers home.

Now it’s three days later and your phone is blowing up:

“Hey, I’ve been throwing up since yesterday…”

“My kids are sick too…”

“Did anyone else get food poisoning from dinner?”

Uh oh.

When One Meal Takes Down Multiple People

Food poisoning doesn’t always happen because food was “old.” Sometimes it happens because:

• Food wasn’t cooked to the right temperature (undercooked poultry, stuffing)
• Food sat out too long (buffet style for 3+ hours)
• Cross-contamination happened (raw meat juice on veggies)
• Someone sick was handling food (norovirus spreads easily)
• Leftovers weren’t refrigerated quickly enough

If multiple people from the same meal get sick, it’s likely something at that dinner was contaminated.

Food Poisoning vs. Stomach Flu

Wait—how do you know it’s food poisoning and not just a stomach bug going around?

FOOD POISONING:

• Symptoms start suddenly (often within hours of eating)
• Everyone who ate the same thing gets sick
• Usually resolves in 24-48 hours

STOMACH FLU (NOROVIRUS):

• Spreads person-to-person over days
• Can be passed even without eating together
• Often includes fever and body aches

Either way? If symptoms are severe, come see us.

When to Seek Urgent Care

For Children:

• 🤢 Vomiting for more than 12 hours
• 💧 Can’t keep any liquids down
• 😴 Extreme lethargy or confusion
• 🚽 No wet diapers in 6+ hours

What We Can Do

At Night Watch, we treat food poisoning in children:

• IV fluids for rapid rehydration
• Anti-nausea and anti-diarrheal medications
• Stool testing to identify the bacteria
• Antibiotics (if bacterial infection is confirmed)
• Guidance on recovery and when to follow up

Prevention Tips for Next Time

• Use a meat thermometer: 165°F for poultry, 145°F for most other meats
• Don’t leave food out: Refrigerate within 2 hours (1 hour if it’s hot outside)
• Separate raw and cooked: Use different cutting boards and utensils
• Wash hands thoroughly: Before and after handling food
• When in doubt, throw it out: If it smells off or you can’t remember when you cooked it, toss it

Flu season has arrived in Manassas, but with a few simple strategies, you can protect your family. Here’s what you need to know.

Get Your Flu Vaccine

Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent the flu. Everyone 6 months and older should get their annual flu shot, ideally in early fall before flu activity peaks. The vaccine takes about two weeks to become fully effective, so don’t wait.

Note: Children getting vaccinated for the first time may need two doses spaced four weeks apart.

Practice Good Hand Hygiene

Handwashing remains one of your best defenses against flu viruses. Encourage your kids to wash with soap and water for at least 20 seconds—singing a favorite song helps pass the time and makes it more enjoyable.

Key times to wash: before meals, after using the bathroom, after playing outside, and after coughing or sneezing.

Teach Proper Cough and Sneeze Etiquette

Show your children how to cough or sneeze into their elbow rather than their hands. This simple habit significantly reduces the spread of germs. Practice at home so it becomes automatic—many kids find it fun to “catch” their sneeze like a vampire in a cape.

Keep Sick Children Home

We know it’s challenging, but keeping feverish children home from school protects other children and gives your child time to recover. Kids should be fever-free for 24 hours without medication before returning to school or daycare.

Support Healthy Habits

A strong immune system makes a difference. Focus on the basics: adequate sleep, nutritious meals, regular physical activity, and plenty of water. These fundamentals help your child’s body fight off infections naturally.

Clean High-Touch Surfaces

During flu season, regularly wipe down frequently touched items like doorknobs, light switches, tablets, and toys. You don’t need to deep-clean constantly—just focus on these hotspots where germs tend to linger.

When to Contact Us

Most children recover from the flu at home with rest and fluids. However, call our office if your child has:

• Difficulty breathing or rapid breathing
• High fever over 104°F or fever lasting more than 3-4 days
• Signs of dehydration (no tears when crying, significantly decreased urination)
• Symptoms that improve then suddenly worsen
• Any concerns that something isn’t quite right

Trust your instincts—remember, you know your child best.

Stay Prepared, Not Worried

Flu season is manageable with the right approach. Get vaccinated, maintain good hygiene, keep sick kids home to rest, and support healthy habits. That’s really the foundation of flu prevention.

If your family does get sick despite your best efforts, remember that rest, comfort, and time usually do the trick. We’re here at Night Watch Manassas if you need us.

Keep your kids safe this summer in Manassas! Night Watch Pediatric Urgent Care shares top tips to prevent dehydration, sunburn & heat exhaustion.

Summer fun in Manassas means trips to Signal Hill Park and local splash pads — but Virginia’s heat can lead to dehydration or heat exhaustion fast. Night Watch Pediatric Urgent Care wants local families to know how to stay safe and when to get help.

Tips:

√ Stay hydrated for outdoor fun at Baldwin Park and local pools

√ Reapply sunscreen every 2 hours

√ Use hats & sunglasses for extra sun protection

√ Check for ticks after hikes at Manassas National Battlefield

√ Know signs of heat exhaustion: dizziness, nausea, or headache

When to Visit Us: Come see us if your child shows signs of dehydration or severe sunburn.

We offer IV hydration for kids who need help bouncing back.