Animal Bites: Definition and Facts

What is an Animal Bite?

An animal bite is a crush and tear type injury caused by the mouth and teeth of an animal. This includes human bites.

Types of Animal Bites

There are two main types of animal bites:

• Puncture wounds are caused by the sharp teeth of animals such as dogs, cats, and snakes.
• Lacerations are caused by the tearing teeth of animals such as lions, tigers, and bears.

Symptoms of an Animal Bite

The symptoms of an animal bite can vary depending on the severity of the bite. Common symptoms include:

• Pain
• Bleeding
• Bruising
• Swelling
• Infection

Treatment for Animal Bites

The treatment for an animal bite will depend on the severity of the bite. Treatment may include:

• Cleaning the wound
• Applying pressure to stop bleeding
• Taking antibiotics to prevent infection
• Getting a tetanus shot

Preventing Animal Bites

There are a number of things you can do to prevent animal bites, including:

• Avoid contact with wild animals.
• Be cautious around unfamiliar animals.
• Never feed wild animals.
• Teach children how to behave around animals.
• Keep your pets vaccinated and up-to-date on their shots.