Animal Bites
Most animal bites in the United States are from dogs and
cats. Wounds should be cleaned and cared for as soon as possible
Although any animal may bite, dogs and, to a lesser extent,
cats account for most bites in the United States. Owing to their popularity as
household pets, dogs account for the majority of bites as a result of
protecting their owners and territory. About 10 to 20 people in the United
States, mostly children, die from dog bites each year. Cats do not defend
territory and bite mainly when humans restrain them or attempt to intervene in
a cat fight. Domestic animals, such as horses, cows, and pigs, bite
infrequently, but their size and strength are such that serious wounds may
result. Wild animal bites are rare.
Did You Know...
Rabies is generally not a concern with bites from squirrels,
hamsters, and rodents.
Dog bites typically have a ragged, torn appearance. Cat
bites involve deep puncture wounds that frequently become infected. Infected
bites are painful, swollen, and red.
Rabies may be transmitted from animals (most commonly bats,
raccoons, foxes, and skunks) infected with that organism. Rabies is rare among
pets in the United States because of vaccination, but in developing countries
where animals are less likely to be vaccinated, bites from pet animals may
transmit rabies. Squirrel, hamster, and rodent bites rarely transmit rabies.
Preventing Dog Bites
Preventing Dog Bites
Any dog may bite. Children are most likely to be bitten by
dogs, and they are also most likely to be seriously injured if they are bitten.
People are more likely to be bitten by their own dog or by a dog they know.
Some precautions can help minimize the risk of a bite:
Do not leave a baby or young child alone with a dog.
Do not disturb a dog that is eating or resting.
Do not approach a strange dog without the owner's
permission.
Do not reach for a dog or reach through a fence to pet a
dog.
Do not run past a dog.
Do not try to separate dogs that are fighting.
If a dog approaches, remain calm and hold still or back away
slowly.
Treatment of Animal Bites
Wound cleansing
Sometimes antibiotics
After receiving routine first-aid treatment, people who have
been bitten by an animal should see a doctor immediately. If possible, the
offending animal should be penned up by its owner. If the animal is loose, the
person who has been bitten should not try to capture it. The police should be
notified so that the proper authorities can observe the animal for signs of
rabies.
Doctors clean an animal bite by flooding the wound with
sterile salt water (saline) and cleansing it with soap and water. Sometimes
tissue is trimmed from the edge of the bite wound, particularly if the tissue
is crushed or ragged.
Facial bite wounds are closed surgically (sutured). However,
minor wounds, puncture wounds, and bite wounds to the hands are usually not
closed.
Antibiotics are sometimes given to prevent infection.
Infected bites sometimes require surgical drainage, antibiotics given
intravenously, or both.