Although dogs are more likely to bite, cat bites are more likely to cause infection. 1) If the skin is broken but not torn and bleeding is limited, wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water. Apply an antibiotic cream and cover it with a bandage. If you haven’t had tetanus shot within the last five years, you may need to get a booster to be safer with our pet dogs and cats. 2) If it’s a deep puncture wound or the skin is badly torn or bleeding, apply pressure and seek immediate medical care. After the wound is cleaned and treated, you may be prescribed an antibiotic and given tetanus shot if you haven’t had one in five years. 3) Watch for infection in the hours and days after the bite occurs. Seek immediate medical care if you experience pain, swelling, redness around the wound, a red streak extending from the wound, or pus draining from the bite.

Our pets bite may also transmit certain diseases that can cause fever, headache and flu-like symptoms. Always remember that you have to seek medical care immediately if you develop these symptoms. Dog and cat bites raise concerns about rabies. It’s important to keep our pet animal’s immunizations current. If a biting incident occurs, whether provoked or not, the animal should be confined and observe for 14 days. If this can’t be done or in certain high-risk situations, your doctor may recommend that you receive rabies shots.

“From the book of Heath and Home”