The most common animal bites in the United States are from dogs, cats, and other humans, in that order. Less common, but more dangerous, are bites from skunks, raccoons, bats, and other animals that live in the wild. These animals can have rabies, a serious and often fatal viral infection.
Most house pets are vaccinated for rabies. It’s unlikely they carry the virus. Abandoned cats and dogs may be at risk, if not vaccinated.
Other bites can come from snakes, spiders, and deer ticks. Deer tick bites can cause Lyme disease, a bacterial infection.
Symptoms
Depending on the animal/insect and how severe the bite is, symptoms
include:
Bleeding
Infection
Tissue loss, if the wound
is disfiguring
Skin rash (red bull’s
eye one with a white center around the bite) with Lyme disease. Fatigue, fever, and joint
pain may also occur.
Lockjaw. This is a painful,
persistent stiffness of the jaw due to a toxin. Tetanus shots can prevent this. (See
Immunization Schedule.)
Allergic reaction, such as
with insect bites. Redness, swelling, and pain can occur at the site. A severe allergic
reaction can also occur.
Prevention
Get house pets vaccinated
for rabies.
Don’t tease animals.
Don’t move suddenly or
scream around an animal or run from a strange dog.
Leave pet dogs and cats
alone while they are eating or sleeping.
Be careful when you handle
your sick or injured pet.
Don’t keep wild
animals as pets and don't feed them with your hands.
Wear heavy boots when
walking in areas where snakes live
To Prevent Lyme Disease:
Ask your doctor about a
vaccine for Lyme disease.
Wear long pants, tucked
into socks, and long-sleeve shirts when walking through fields or forests, etc. Wear
light-colored, tightly-woven clothing. Inspect for ticks after these activities.
Use an insect repellant
that is approved for deer ticks.
Treatment
Self-care can be used for animal bites that cause superficial scratches
and for insect bites that do not cause a severe allergic reaction.
Rabies shots can prevent transmission to humans if the series of shots is begun soon after a bite from an infected animal.
Antivenom is available for poisonous snake bites at emergency medical facilities. It should be given within 4 hours of the bite.
| Has the bite severely mangled the skin and/or caused severe
bleeding? {Note: See First Aid for Major Bleeding under "Self-Care Tips".}  |
 |
| Has the victim been bitten by a snake known to be poisonous or are you
unsure whether or not the snake is poisonous? {Note: See First Aid for Shock Until Emergency Care Arrives under "Self Care Tips".} |
|
Does the person show signs of shock? These include: Pale or bluish lips, skin, or
fingernails Cool, moist skin Rapid or slow heartbeat and/or breathingWeakness, trembling Restlessness, anxiety, confusion Enlarged pupils Vomiting Unconsciousness{Note: See First Aid for Shock Until Emergency Care Arrives under "Shock".} |
|
| Has the victim been bitten by a spider known to be poisonous or do
any of these symptoms result from the bite? Painful cramps and muscle stiffness
in the abdomen or shoulders, chest and back Nausea, vomiting Restlessness, dizziness, problems
with breathing, Fever, chills, heavy sweating {Note: See First Aid for Poisonous Spider Bites Until Emergency Care Arrives under "Self Care Tips".} |
|
| Has a human bite punctured the skin? |
|
| Was the bite from an animal that lives in the wild or a pet that
has not been immunized against rabies? |
|
| Was the bite over a joint and does it cause painful movement? |
 |
| Are any signs of infection present 24 or more hours after the
animal bite? Fever Pus Increased swelling and/or redness |
|
First Aid for Poisonous Snake Bites Until
Emergency Care Arrives:
Carefully move the victim
(or yourself) away from the snake. Carry the victim if necessary.
Calm the victim and have
the victim rest as much as possible. Moving about can help the venom spread.
Gently wash the bite area
with soap and water.
Keep the limb of the bite
site level with or just below the level of the heart.
Apply a
Observe the snake
carefully, if you can. Be able to describe the shape of its eyes and pupils, head shape,
color scheme, and the presence of rattles.
Don’t try to kill the
snake. You could get bitten.
Don’t apply cold or
ice to the bite.
Don’t cut the fang
mark.
Don’t try to suck out
the venom.
Don’t apply a
tourniquet or a bandage.
First Aid for
Poisonous Spider Bite Until Emergency Care Arrives:
Perform rescue
breathing, if needed. (See Airway and Breathing.)
If you can, keep the
bitten area lower than the level of the heart.
Calm the victim and
keep him or her warm.
Gently clean the site
of the bite with soap and water or rubbing
Put an ice pack over
the bite site for pain relief.
If you can, catch the
spider in a closed container for identification.
For Human Bites Before Immediate Care:
Wash the wound area
with soap and water for at least 5 minutes, but don't scrub hard.
Rinse with running
water or with an antiseptic solution, such as Betadine.
Cover the wound area
with sterile gauze. Tape only the ends of the gauze in place. Then get immediate care.
For Dog and Cat Bites:
Wash the bite area right away with soap and warm water for 5 minutes.
This helps to remove any saliva and other debris. If the bite is deep, flush the wound
with water for 10 minutes. This helps to protect against infection. Dry the wound with a
clean towel. Then get immediate care.
If the wound is swollen, apply ice wrapped in a towel for 10 minutes.
Have the victim get a tetanus shot if his or her tetanus immunizations
are not up-to-date. (See Immunization
Schedule)
If the bite hurts, take an over-the-counter medicine for pain. {Note: See
Pain relievers
in Your Home Pharmacy.}
Observe the wound for a few days, checking it for infection.
Report the incident to the animal control department.
If you know the pet's owner, find out the date of the pet's last rabies
vaccination. If its immunization are not current, arrange with the animal control
department for the pet to be observed for the next 10 days to be sure it does not develop
rabies.
For Non-Poisonous Snake Bites:
Gently wash the site with soap and water.
Treat the bite as a minor
wound. (See Cuts, Scrapes & Punctures.)
Consult a health care provider
if you notice signs of infection.
For Deer Tick Bites:
Remove any ticks found on
the skin. Use tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible. Pull gently and
carefully in a steady upward motion at the point where the tick's mouthpart enters the
skin. Try not to crush the tick because the secretions released may spread disease.
Wash the wound area and your hands with
soap and water after removing ticks.
Save one tick. Put it in a closed jar with
rubbing alcohol. Ask your doctor if he would like to see it.
{Note: Contact your doctor if you notice signs of infection such as redness, swelling, pus, and/or fever. Find out, too, if a tetanus shot is needed.}
HEALTH AT HOME - Your Complete Guide to Symptoms, Solutions, and Self-Care © 2002 by Don R. Powell. American Institute for Preventive Medicine.
Date updated 7/2/02