Dog and Cat bites: Doing the right things can prevent serious complications

Mar 04, 2018 Dr Zulfikar Bux, Features / Columnists

---

By Dr Zulfikar Bux
Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine

Dog bites are the most common type of animal bite. Studies show that of the people who attend emergency departments with bites, an average of 7 out of 10 have dog bites. Cat bites are less common. Around 10 out of every 100 people attending emergency departments with a bite have been bitten by a cat.
In Guyana, there has been an increase in dogs and cats in homes. As a result we are seeing more bites, especially dog bites. Today we will discuss these two types of bites. Hopefully we will be able to minimize complications associated with them.

WHO IS AT RISK OF GETTING BITTEN?

Bites are caused most often by the owner’s own pet or an animal known to them. Boys get bitten more than girls. Children are most commonly affected. Children are more likely to be bitten on the head or neck and are therefore more likely to have the more serious bites. Severe dog bites occur most often in children under the age of 5 years.
Some dogs are more dangerous than others. Those thought to be most dangerous include Rottweilers, Pit bull terriers, and German Shepherds, but even small dogs can inflict serious bites.
Many animal bites are unprovoked. However, animals are more likely to bite if they are frightened, suddenly disturbed, or feel threatened.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I AM BITTEN?

You should clean the wound no matter how small the cut to the skin. There are many germs (bacteria) in animals’ mouths. Cleaning will reduce the chance of infection. If the wound is small, you can clean it yourself. Just use ordinary tap water. Let it bleed freely, unless the bleeding is very heavy. If the wound is bleeding heavily, use a clean pad, or preferably a sterile dressing, to apply pressure until you can get medical treatment. Wounds that are large, deep, punctured or dirty, are best cleaned and assessed by a nurse or doctor.

WHEN SHOULD I SEE A DOCTOR?

For all bites which break the skin, it is sensible to see a doctor for assessment. Unless it is a very trivial bite, it is wise to seek medical advice.
Get yourself or your child assessed after a cat or dog bite if:
• The bleeding is heavy (go to hospital right away if you can’t stop the bleeding).
• The wound is wide or deep.
• You have been bitten by a cat.
• The bite is on the head of a small child (go to the hospital right away)
• The bite is on your face or ears or hands.
• There is a possibility the dog or cat has rabies.
• You have not had a complete course of tetanus immunization, or if your booster is due.
• The skin around the bite has become red or hot, or if the wound is oozing.
• You develop a high temperature (fever) after a bite.
• Your immune system is not working properly (for example, due to medication, chemotherapy, diabetes, or AIDS).
• You have an artificial heart valve or a replaced joint.

WHAT MAY HAPPEN WHEN I GO TO THE HOSPITAL?

The wound can be properly assessed and cleaned. If part of the wound has dead or damaged skin then it may need to be trimmed or removed. This is because infection is more likely to develop in dead skin.
Do not be surprised if the doctor does not stitch or close up a dog or cat wound immediately. For many bites it is safer to let them heal on their own. For some bites in some parts of the body it is common practice to wait for a few days before closing the wound. This is particularly the case if the wound is more than six hours old. This is to make sure the wound is not infected before closing it up.
A wound that becomes infected after it has been stitched or closed up, can cause serious complications. After the wound is cleaned, a clean dressing is normally applied. Large, severe or deep bites may require an operation to clean the wound and repair underlying structures that may be damaged, such as tendons.
A short course of antibiotics may be prescribed to prevent infection developing. All cat bites are treated with antibiotics, because they have a higher risk of developing infection.

WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS?

Infection is common after dog and cat bites. Infection can be in or around the wound, causing redness or swelling. Or it may spread away from the original bite, to affect more areas of skin, or tissue nearby such bone or through the bloodstream to other parts of the body. Rarely, this can go on to cause infections of the brain or the heart, or throughout the body.
Rarely, other infections, such as tetanus or cat scratch disease can be complications.
Although rare, animal bites can be fatal. This may occur if the bite involves a vital blood vessel and a lot of blood is lost. It may occur if there is widespread infection as mentioned above. It is a particular risk in small infants, whose skulls are soft, if they have a severe bite on the head.
If you decide to go against advice and start to feel unwell with a high temperature (fever), shivers, or other worrying symptoms within a week or so after a dog or cat bite, then do not hesitate to go to the doctor. It is a sign that you have developed a serious infection that can be life-threatening. My hope is that you will not wait that long after reading today’s article.

---

---