When Can Dog Bites Lead to Nerve Damage?

 Posted on October 25, 2025 in Dog Bite Injuries

Dog bites can be painful, scary, and sometimes life-changing. Even with prompt medical treatment, you may face serious complications. A dog bite can affect your movement, sensation, and long-term quality of life. In some cases, a dog bite can cause nerve damage, which may result in pain, numbness, and even permanent disability.

At Dog Bite Injury Lawyer - Mevorah Law Offices LLC, our Naperville dog bite attorneys have seen firsthand how devastating these injuries can be. We represent victims on a contingency-fee basis, meaning you do not pay unless we get compensation for you.

What Types of Nerve Damage Can a Dog Bite Cause?

The human body contains an intricate network of nerves that run throughout the muscles and skin. These nerves control sensation, reflexes, and muscle movement. They can easily be damaged by a dog bite, with severe consequences.

• Severed nerves – When a dog's teeth puncture the skin and damage the underlying tissues, significant nerve damage can occur. In some cases, nerves may be severed, and depending on the location of the body where a bite occurred, this could result in a loss of sensation, a loss of mobility, or even complete paralysis.

• Compression nerve injuries – This type of injury occurs when a person’s nerves are compressed due to swelling in the area surrounding the bite. This often results in pain, numbness, tingling, or even paralysis in some cases.

• Entrapment injuries – These types of injuries occur when a person’s nerves become trapped or pinched due to broken bones or scarring around a bite wound. The resulting symptoms could include pain, burning sensations, muscle weakness, or loss of sensation in affected areas.

• Infection-induced nerve damage – This type of injury occurs when an infection stemming from a dog bite causes inflammation and pressure on nearby nerves, resulting in pain and other neurological symptoms.

Why Would a Dog Bite Go Numb? 

Numbness is one of the most common warning signs of nerve damage. It may appear immediately after the bite or come on slowly in the days and weeks that follow. Numbness can happen when the nerves that send signals to the brain are damaged. The damage can come from direct trauma, such as a deep puncture wound, or from swelling and pressure around the nerve.

When a nerve is completely cut, the brain no longer receives signals from that part of the body. This causes complete numbness. When a nerve is only bruised or compressed, numbness may come and go, often accompanied by tingling or "pins and needles" sensations. In some cases, victims may notice that they can move their fingers or toes but cannot feel them.

Numbness after a dog bite is never something to ignore. It can mean there is ongoing inflammation, scarring, or an infection that could get worse without treatment. If you are experiencing any numbness after a dog bite, see a doctor right away.

How Is Nerve Damage Diagnosed and Treated?

Nerve injuries require a careful medical evaluation. A doctor will usually do physical tests to look at your strength, coordination, and sensitivity. You might need an MRI or ultrasound scan to see whether your nerves are torn, compressed, or surrounded by scar tissue.

Treatment depends on where the nerve damage is, as well as how serious it is. In mild cases, rest and medication to reduce swelling may allow nerves to heal on their own. Physical therapy can help rebuild strength and restore movement. Massage therapy and electrical stimulation are sometimes used to encourage nerve regrowth and better blood flow.

For more serious injuries, surgery may be necessary. Surgeons can sometimes reconnect severed nerves or take healthy nerve tissue from another part of the body. However, nerve regeneration is a slow process, and full recovery can take months or years. In some cases, nerve damage is permanent.

What Are the Long-Term Effects of Nerve Damage From a Dog Bite?

The long-term effects of nerve damage vary. Some victims recover full use of the affected area. Others continue to experience partial numbness, tingling, or weakness. In serious cases, nerve damage can limit your ability to do daily tasks, work, or do the things you love.

In addition to physical injuries, nerve injuries often cause emotional and psychological distress. Chronic pain, disfigurement, and fear of dogs can lead to anxiety or post-traumatic stress. Victims may also face financial hardship from medical bills and lost income during recovery.

Because of these challenges, victims of serious dog bite injuries should work with an attorney. You may be able to get compensation from the dog’s owner. Illinois law holds dog owners strictly liable for injuries caused by their pets under the Animal Control Act. This means that if a dog attacks someone without being provoked, the owner is responsible for all resulting damages.

How Can an Attorney Help After a Dog Bite Causes Nerve Damage?

Recovering from a dog bite that causes nerve damage can take time and money. A top-notch attorney can help victims pursue compensation from the dog’s owner so that victims receive the money necessary to pay for treatment.

An attorney will look at your medical records, talk to dog bite experts, and document the effects of nerve damage. This evidence helps build a strong case for damages that include the true cost of recovery from the injury. This can include not just immediate medical bills but also physical therapy, surgeries, and the loss of the ability to make money in the future.

Contact a Naperville, IL Dog Bite Lawyer

If you are dealing with numbness after a dog bite, you deserve justice and support. At Dog Bite Injury Lawyer - Mevorah Law Offices LLC, we have helped many people get the compensation they deserve after serious dog attacks. Since we work on a contingency fee basis, clients do not pay upfront or hourly legal fees. Payment is only due if we successfully recover compensation on your behalf.

To learn about your options, call our Naperville, IL dog bite lawyers today at 630-552-6860. We offer free consultations and work on a contingency basis, so you pay nothing unless we win your case.