Animal Bites

Overview

Domestic pets cause most animal bites. Dogs are more likely to bite than cats. However, cat bites are more likely to cause infection. Bites from wild animals carry the risk of rabies. Rabies is common in raccoons, skunks, bats and foxes. Rabbits and squirrels rarely harbor rabies, but squirrels have been occasionally known to harbor this disease. If you or a friend are bitten by an animal, follow these guidelines:

If the bite only breaks the skin, treat it as a minor wound. Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water. Apply an antibiotic cream to prevent infection and cover it with a clean bandage. Contact your health care provider to discuss if antibiotics are appropriate in preventing infection.

If the bite creates a deep puncture of the skin or you have significant bleeding, apply pressure to stop the bleeding and see your health care provider immediately.

If you notice signs of infection, such as swelling, redness, increased pain or discharge, see your health care provider immediately.
If you suspect the bite was caused by an animal with rabies (one that behaves oddly or is foaming at the mouth, or one that bites even though unprovoked), see your health care provider immediately.

Cat Scratch Disease

There is a disease called Cat-Scratch Disease, which is caused by a bacteria that is harbored by many cats. The name of the illness is somewhat of a misnomer, as it can also occur from a cat bite. If you were bitten or scratched by a cat, and you develop fevers or develop swollen lymph nodes in an area near the site of the wound roughly two weeks after you were bitten, see your health care provider. Occasionally, people can develop joint pain or muscle aches as well as neurological symptoms, including blurry vision (usually only in one eye), paralysis, confusion and even seizures. The illness can be effectively treated with antibiotics.

Prevention

You should have a tetanus shot every 10 years. If the wound is deep or dirty, your health care provider may recommend a booster if your last one was more than five years ago. You should have a booster within 48 hours after the injury. If you own pets, speak to your veterinarian about vaccination against rabies.