When it comes to animal bites, immediate care is essential. Bites from dogs and cats are widely reported and it is vital that you are prepared to handle one.
Cleansing the wound
You should clean the wound regardless of how small the wound is. Remember that there are abundant bacteria present in the mouth of animals. By cleaning the wound, it reduces the risk for infection.
For small wounds, you can easily clean one using tap water. Allow it to bleed freely unless it is bleeding significantly. In case the wound is bleeding heavily, you can utilize a clean pad or sterile dressing to place pressure until medical treatment is sought. After cleaning, make sure that the wound is covered with a sterile, non-adhesive dressing. In addition, wounds that are deep, large, punctured or dirty should be cleaned by a healthcare professional.
Medical care for animal bites
Wound care
If a region of a wound has dead or injured skin, it should be pared or eliminated. This is required since infection is expected to develop.
In most cases, animal bites heal on their own. For bites in some parts of the body, it is best to wait for a few days before the wound is closed. This is done to ensure that the wound does not show any indications of infection before it is sealed.
For large, severe or deep animal bites, surgery is often required to clean the wound and fix the underlying structures that might be damaged such as the tendons.
Antibiotics
The doctor might prescribe a brief course of antibiotics to reduce the risk for infection. Antibiotics for animal bites are prescribed in certain cases such as:
- Cat bites due to the high risk for infection
- Animals bites on the leg or arm, especially on the hand.
- Wounds that are deep, large or punctured.
- Those who have weakened immunity such as individuals on chemotherapy, have diabetes, AIDS or have no spleen.
Tetanus
Individuals with animal bites require a tetanus shot if not updated with the immunizations. In such cases, a booster shot must be given.
Rabies
This is a serious condition that is passed on to humans from animal bites. Immediate treatment after a bite is vital to prevent rabies from developing.
Disclaimer / More Information
The information posted on this page on animal bites is for learning and educational purposes only. To learn more about proper wound care for animal bites, register for first aid training at one of our training centers located throughout Canada. The training centers are in Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, Kelowna, Surrey, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa and Halifax.