Animal bites - self-care


Description

An animal bite can break, puncture, or tear the skin. Bites that break the skin put you at risk for infections.

Alternative Names

Bites - animals - self-care

Causes

Most animal bites come from pets. Dog bites are common and most often happen to children. Compared with adults, children are much more likely to be bitten on the face, head, or neck.

Cat bites are less common but have a higher risk for infection. Cat teeth are longer and sharper, which can cause deeper puncture wounds. Most other animal bites are caused by stray or wild animals, such as skunks, raccoons, foxes, and bats.

Bites that cause a puncture wound are more likely to become infected. Some animals are infected with a virus that can cause rabies. Rabies is rare but is often deadly.

Symptoms

Pain, bleeding, numbness and tingling may occur with any animal bite.

The bite may also result in:

Wound Care

You should get medical attention within 24 hours for any bite that breaks the skin:

If you are caring for someone who was bitten:

To care for a bite wound:

When to Call Animal Control

You should contact animal control or your local police if you are bitten by:

Tell them what the animal looks like and where it is. They will decide whether the animal needs to be captured and isolated.

Possible Complications

Most animal bites will heal without developing infection or decreased tissue function. Ask your provider if you should take an antibiotic to reduce the chance of an infection.

Some wounds will require surgery to properly clean and close, and even some minor bites may need stitches. Deep or extensive wounds may result in significant scarring.

Complications from bite wounds include:

An animal bite is more likely to become infected in people who have:

Getting a rabies shot right after you are bitten can protect you from the disease.

How to Prevent Animal Bites

To prevent animal bites:

When to Call the Doctor

Wild animals and unknown pets could be carrying rabies. If you have been bitten by a wild or stray animal, contact your provider right away. See your provider within 24 hours for any bite that breaks the skin.

Contact your provider or go to the emergency room if:

References

Eilbert WP. Mammalian bites. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 52.

Goldstein EJC, Abrahamian FM. Bites. In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 315.


Review Date: 4/3/2024
Reviewed By: Jesse Borke, MD, CPE, FAAEM, FACEP, Attending Physician at Kaiser Permanente, Orange County, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
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