A park bite is usually over in seconds, but the minutes around it decide how well the rest goes. Two aroused dogs, shouting owners and a crowd gathering can turn one bite into a second incident, and a dog running on adrenaline may show no pain at all until things quieten down. Your first job is a calm separation, your second is an honest look at your own dog, and your third is capturing information that becomes impossible to collect once the other owner has walked away. None of that requires any specialist skill. It requires resisting the urge to grab collars in the middle of a fight, and treating even a small-looking wound with more respect than it appears to deserve.
Make the Scene Safe, Then Look Properly
Separate the dogs with voices, a coat or bag placed as a barrier, or leads slipped on from behind, rather than putting your hands near either dog's head. Get distance between them, ideally with a gate or car between the two parties, and give your dog a minute to settle before you examine anything. Then work over the whole body slowly with your hands as well as your eyes, parting the coat around the neck, ears, shoulders, legs and belly, because punctures hide in fur and a single visible mark often has a partner wound nearby. Note what you can observe: bleeding, limping, swelling, guarding one area, trembling, or a dog who has gone unusually quiet. If there is an open wound, keep it covered with a clean cloth or clothing for the journey, and let the vet do any cleaning or treatment once they can see the full picture.
Capture the Details That Matter Later
While everyone is still at the park, exchange full names and contact numbers, and agree a brief, plain account of what happened: where, when, which dog approached which, and whether either was on a lead. Ask directly about the other dog's vaccination status and pass the answer to your vet exactly as it was given, because it forms part of the information the vet works with. Take clear photos of any injury, of the other dog if you can do so calmly, and of the spot where it happened, and note the names of anyone who saw it. Reporting duties after a bite vary by place, so check your local rules afterwards rather than relying on park custom. If the other owner leaves without sharing details, write down a description of the dog and owner and the direction they went while it is fresh.
The Vet Visit and the Days After
Phone your vet the same day and describe the bite as a bite, not as a scratch, because bite wounds are routinely deeper than their surface opening suggests and the tissue underneath can be crushed or torn where the skin looks almost intact. Keep the wound covered on the way, follow the vet's instructions on monitoring and any return visits, and let them decide what treatment the wound needs. Across the following days, watch for observable changes rather than waiting for a crisis: new swelling, heat around the wound, discharge, an unpleasant smell, growing soreness, reduced appetite or a dog who becomes withdrawn or reluctant to move. Any of those means a prompt call back to the practice, not a longer wait. Some dogs also come home warier of other dogs than they were, so keep the next few walks calm and spacious, and do not force cheerful greetings at the park gate. Having vaccination history and vet contacts stored together through Pet Passport in the KinsLe app saves you hunting for paperwork when the practice asks what the other owner reported.