Animal bites range from mild to serious. An animal bite can result in any of these injuries:

• A scratch.

• A deep, open cut.

• Broken (punctured) or torn skin.

• A crush injury.

• A bone injury.

You are more likely to be bitten by an animal if:

• You are around unfamiliar pets.

• You disturb an animal when it is eating, sleeping, or caring for its babies.

• You are outdoors in a place where small, wild animals roam freely.

Common symptoms of an animal bite include:

• Pain.

• Bleeding.

• Swelling.

• Bruising.

This condition may be diagnosed based on a physical exam and medical history. Your health care provider will examine your wound and ask for details about the animal and how the bite happened. You may also have tests, such as:

• Blood tests to check for infection.

• X-rays to check for damage to bones or joints.

• Taking a fluid sample from your wound and checking it for infection (culture test).

Treatment depends on the type of animal, where the bite is on your body, and your medical history. Treatment may include:

• Wound care. This often includes cleaning the wound and rinsing it out (flushing it) with saline solution, which is made of salt and water. A bandage (dressing) is also often applied. In rare cases, the wound may be closed with stitches (sutures), staples, skin glue, or adhesive strips.

• Antibiotic medicine to prevent or treat infection. This medicine may be prescribed in pill or ointment form. If the bite area gets infected, the medicine may be given through an IV.

• A tetanus shot to prevent tetanus infection.

• Rabies treatment to prevent rabies infection, if the animal could have rabies.

• Surgery. This may be done if a bite gets infected or causes damage that needs to be repaired.

Medicines

• Take or apply over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.

• If you were prescribed an antibiotic medicine, take or apply it as told by your health care provider. Do not stop using the antibiotic even if you start to feel better.

Wound care

• Follow instructions from your health care provider about how to take care of your wound. Make sure you:

  • Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before and after you change your dressing. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer.

  • Change your dressing as told by your health care provider.

  • Leave sutures, skin glue, or adhesive strips in place. These skin closures may need to stay in place for 2 weeks or longer. If adhesive strip edges start to loosen and curl up, you may trim the loose edges. Do not remove adhesive strips completely unless your health care provider tells you to do that.

• Check your wound every day for signs of infection. Check for:

  • More redness, swelling, or pain.

  • More fluid or blood.

  • Warmth.

  • Pus or a bad smell.

General instructions

• Raise (elevate) the injured area above the level of your heart while you are sitting or lying down, if this is possible.

• If directed, put ice on the injured area. To do this:

  • Put ice in a plastic bag.

  • Place a towel between your skin and the bag.

  • Leave the ice on for 20 minutes, 2–3 times per day.

  • Remove the ice if your skin turns bright red. This is very important. If you cannot feel pain, heat, or cold, you have a greater risk of damage to the area.

• Keep all follow-up visits. This is important.