Animal Bites
Many people are attacked and bitten by animals, both wild and domestic, every year. Animal bites should be treated with medical attention and antibiotics because of the likelihood for infection, even if the animal bite is not deep enough to require stitches. Injury attorneys can help answer questions about liability and rights regarding animal bites.
Dogs are the most likely animals to bite humans, mostly because of the close proximity they share with people and because of their guarding instinct. Other domestic pets, such as cats, hamsters, rats, snakes and birds also bite. People also suffer from animal bites from wild animals, such as skunks, bats and raccoons as well. Injuries can be costly, painful, and take a long time to heal. Injury attorneys can inform you of your rights regarding animal bites, help you file a personal injury claim, and tell you whether you can seek compensation for your medical costs.
All animal bites should be immediately cared for. Scratches from animal claws and bird beaks should be treated the same way you would treat a bite. Animal bites are highly likely to develop infections, even if the skin is hardly broken, because animal saliva contains a lot of harmful bacteria. If an animal bites or attacks you, there are a number of things you can do.
First, remove yourself from harm’s way. Immediately find a safe place away from where the animal is located. Record where the animal lives and who the owner is if the animal is domestic pet. If the animal is wild, remember your location so you can alert wildlife officials.
If the skin isn’t broken, wash the wound with an antibacterial soap, apply an antibiotic cream and cover with a clean wrap. Having a doctor check the wound is wise; infections can still develop. Redness, oozing and swelling are all symptoms of an infected animal bite.
If the animal bite wound is deep, try to stop the bleeding by applying pressure, cover the wound with a clean cloth, and immediately seek medical attention.
Tetanus shots are usually recommended if you receive an animal bite, especially if the wound is deep or very dirty. Also, make sure to obtain rabies vaccination records from the pet’s owner. If the pet has not been recently vaccinated, or if the animal was wild, immediately seek medical attention.
If you receive a snake bite, treat it differently than other animal bites. First, remember that not all snakes are poisonous. If you aren’t sure if you’ve been bitten by a poisonous snake, follow these instructions to be on the safe side:
- First, contact emergency services, especially if you notice swelling, pain, or a change in skin color around the wound.
- Immobilize the injured limb and stay as calm as possible. Increasing your heart rate will only increase the severity of the wound and the spread of the poison.
- Do not restrict blood flow, try to remove the venom or apply ice. All of these actions will lead to greater injury.
