Animal bites
An animal bite that breaks your skin exposes you to multiple bacteria, both from bacteria that may be on your skin and bacteria in the animal’s mouth. If the bite barely breaks the skin, you have a better chance of cleaning the wound well and preventing infection. But deep bites are puncture wounds, and bacteria can go in deep with these types of bites.
Dog bites are the most common ones related to pets, but cat bites cause 10% to 20% of animal bites in the U.S. At first, they may not appear to cause as much damage as dog bites, but their smaller teeth and deep punctures can make it hard to clean out a wound properly.
Many households, especially with children, have pets like guinea pigs and hamsters. These animals can also bite and cause infections.
Signs of an infected bite may include:
If an animal bites you, it’s essential to check with the owner to ensure that the vaccinations are up-to-date. If not, see your doctor and explain which vaccinations the dog did not have. If you don’t know the dog that bit you, this should be reported to animal control in your area.
All scratches, even human ones, can become infected. Signs of an infected scratch are similar to that of a bite.
Cat scratch disease is an illness literally caused by a cat’s scratch. The Bartonella henselae bacteria cause it. Although the infection can happen anytime throughout the year, it is more common in the fall and winter. If a cat scratches you, clean the wound well and watch for signs of infection. These include:
If you see any signs of infection, see your doctor as soon as possible to see if you need antibiotics.
If you have an animal bite or scratch, be sure to clean the wound thoroughly with warm running water. Keep the wound clean and dry until a scab forms to reduce the risk of infection.
If you suspect sepsis, call 9-1-1 or go to a hospital and tell your medical professional, “I AM CONCERNED ABOUT SEPSIS.
Would you like to share your story about sepsis or read about others who have had sepsis? Please visit Faces of Sepsis, where you will find hundreds of stories from survivors and tributes to those who died from sepsis.
People should see their doctor straight away if they have any symptoms of infection around the wound, such as:
People may be able to avoid getting an infection from a dog bite if they wash the wound straight away. They can hold the wound under running water or use soap and water to wash it thoroughly before covering the wound with a bandage to keep it clean.
If a dog bite pierces a person’s skin, bacteria from the animal’s mouth can get into the body, which can cause an infection.
People can get rabies if a dog that has rabies bites them. The first symptoms of rabies are:
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, people with a dirty wound should have a booster tetanus vaccine if more than 5 years have passed since their last shot. For a clean wound, people should have a booster vaccine if it has been more than 10 years since their last shot.
What Should You Do If Bitten by a Dog?
If a dog bites you or a family member, you should take immediate steps to protect yourself and reduce the risk of infection:
Doctor explains how to assess and treat dog bites
You can suffer serious injuries in a dog attack that cause permanent scarring and disfigurement, as well as chronic pain and limitations on your ability to work and take care of your daily activities. Dog bites also put you in danger of developing a serious infection with dangerous complications.
You may have the right to pursue injury compensation to cover medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages due to infections from dog bites. First, learn what the most common infections are, and then how proper legal representation will help your case.
Pasteurella The bacteria Pasteurella, which is in a dogs mouth, is transmitted when the animal punctures a persons skin. This bacteria can cause cellulitis, which is a complicated skin infection. Symptoms of this infection usually develop within 2–24 hours after a dog bite and include redness, swelling, tenderness, and pus around the wound.
A victim must get immediate medical treatment if symptoms develop. If untreated, a pasteurella infection can cause these complications:
Staph and Strep Staphylococcus or streptococcus bacteria cause staph and strep infections. The initial symptoms are similar to those of a pasteurella infection and can also lead to cellulitis. Serious complications from this infection include blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Rabies While rabies isnt the most common infection you could get from a dog bite, it can be one of the most deadly. Rabies is a viral disease that the animal transmits to a person through its salvia if it scratches or bites him. If attacked by a dog, victims should seek immediate medical care to determine if treatment is needed to prevent rabies.
Once a person presents symptoms of rabies, the infection is often fatal. The initial symptoms are similar to the flu and can last for a few days or longer. Other progressive symptoms include:
Capnocytophaga Capnocytophaga is a rarer bacterial infection transmitted from a dog’s bite or scratch. People with weakened immune systems, experience difficulty fighting infections—such as individuals with HIV or cancer—or are taking steroids have a higher risk of developing this condition.
Most victims will experience symptoms within three–to–five days of a dog bite, but it can take up to 14 days for capnocytophaga to fully present. Symptoms include blisters around the wound, swelling, pus, fever, diarrhea, vomiting, and headaches. Capnocytophaga can also cause life-threatening complications such as: