Animal bites / Dog bites - First Aid and Emergency Treatment Guide

Overview

• Domestic pets cause more bites
• Dogs more likely to bite, cats more infectious
• Risk of rabies with non-immunized pets / stray / wild animals
• Raccoons, skunks, foxes, bats too carry rabies

Symptoms

• Skin break 
• Bruise / puncture
• Cuts
• Bleeding
• Swelling and redness of the area
• Oozing of fluid

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Treatment

• Calm the affected person
• Wash hands before attending to wound
• Wash wound with soap & running water
• Apply antibiotic ointment 
• Dress using sterile bandage
• After first aid, medical treatment must be sought quickly
• Suturing may be required
• Tetanus booster / antibiotics required
• Treatment depends on type / location of wound

Prevention

• Avoid keeping wild animals as pets 
• Choose a pet that is friendly to children
• Train the pet to obey commands
• Vaccinate your pet
• When children are around, pets supervision is required
• Avoid leaving infants alone with pets