Animal bites and scratches that break the skin can sometimes cause infection. Some bites need to be closed with stitches while others heal on their own.
Rarely, animal bites (particularly from wild animals) can lead to rabies, a life-threatening disease. Bats, raccoons, skunks, and foxes transmit most cases of rabies.
What to Do
- Wash the bite area with soap and water; apply pressure with sterile gauze or a clean cloth if the bite is bleeding.
- If the bleeding has stopped, apply antibiotic ointment.
- Cover the area with a bandage or sterile gauze.
- Offer your child acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain.
Seek Medical Care
- the bite was from:
- a wild or stray animal
- a pet that isn't up-to-date on rabies shots
- an animal that is acting strangely
- the bite has broken the skin
- the bite is on the face, head, neck, hand, foot, or near a joint
- a bite or scratch becomes red, hot, swollen, or increasingly painful
- your child is behind on shots or has not had a tetanus shot within 5 years
When seeking treatment, have the following information on hand:
- the kind of animal that bit your child
- the date of the animal's last rabies vaccination, if known
- any recent unusual behavior by the animal
- the animal's location, if known
- if the animal was a stray or wild, or was captured by a local animal control service
- your child's immunization (shots) record
- a list of any medicines your child is allergic to
Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD
Date reviewed: April 2014
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|National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC) The website of NCIPC contains a variety of injury prevention information.|
|Children's Safety Network Made up of several resource centers funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Children's Safety Network works to reduce injuries and prevent violence for children and adolescents.|
|The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) The HSUS educates the public about the humane treatment of all animals, and how to find and care for different kinds of pets.|
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|Rabies Rabies is a serious infection of the nervous system that is caused by a virus. Rabies is usually transmitted by a bite from an infected animal.|
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Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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