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Tip
82 - Dog and cat bites - What to do when dogs or cats get
bitten
All animals, whether wild or domestic, bite to defend themselves.
When your pet leaves the safety of your home, especially if it
is allowed to wander, it is particularly susceptible to
this type of injury. It's important,
therefore,
to know how
to
deal
with bites because they often carry - and can sometimes transmit
- contagious and fatal diseases, like rabies.
Tomcats and un neutered dogs often fight with other males in order
to stake out their territories and attract females in heat. This
generally explains the bites that you might see on your pet. On
the other hand, an animal that roams far afield is more likely
to run into, and be attacked by, wild animals.
| Causes
of Bites |
Symptoms
of Dog and Cat Bites |
• Fights.
• Wild-animal
attacks.
|
- A
bite wound usually leaves two deep teeth marks in the
skin and muscle.
- Abrasions
to the skin; sensitive when touched.
- Swelling.
- Bleeding.
- Abscess
develops after a few days. You'll notice swelling around
the wound and the presence of pus.
The site is red and
painful. The abscess may burst, producing a
foul smell.
- Loss
of appetite.
- Fever,
above 39.4° C (103° F).
- Lethargy.
|
First aid for dog and cat bites
- If fresh, clean the wound with tepid water and disinfect with iodine.
- Consult a vet. Animals, especially cats, have abundant bacterial
flora in their
mouths, making a bite wound a breeding ground for local and systemic
infections.
- If an abscess appears, see a vet.
- If the abscess bursts, clean the wound with tepid water and apply
iodine (wear
latex gloves), then consult a vet.
- If your pet was bitten by a wild animal that later died, place
the carcass in a
sealed plastic bag (wear latex gloves) and take it to the vet.
If the wild animal
is alive, don't try to capture it, but report its whereabouts to
your local wildlife
officer.
Portions of this text reprinted by permission from
First Aid for Dogs and Cats by Chantale Robinson published by Sogides
Ltd.
© Pets.ca
2006
www.pets.ca
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