Bites from animals

Contents

• The most common animal bites
• How to deal with animal bites
• Humans are animals too
• Dr Kate says

The most common animal bites

	Children are sometimes bitten by their own or their friends’ pets. Any animals that have claws or teeth will use them to defend themselves when they are frightened. Animals have rights too and need to be treated with respect and care by humans. It is wise not to touch an animal that is eating or sleeping.
Children have to learn how to behave towards animals. Animals need to be trained in how to behave towards humans. Even a small creature like a mouse can nip a finger. See our topic Pets - keeping yourself safe, to learn more about keeping yourself safe with pets around.

How to deal with animal bites

	Wash the area very carefully with water and antiseptic, or soap.
	Use ice to keep the swelling down.

	Apply an antiseptic, eg. Betadine** or Savlon** (your chemist will tell you what to use if you can't find these - they may be called by a different name in your part of the world).
	Cover with a clean dressing or plaster, but take the plaster off every day to make sure the bitten place is healing well.
	Look for signs of an infection, (ie. redness, swelling, pain, tenderness and the infected part often feels hot to touch).
	If there is infection, you need to see a doctor.

	Have mum, dad or a trusted adult check out the bite.
	The person who has been bitten may need to see a doctor in case he needs stiches.
	Check if you need an anti-tetanus shot.

Humans are animals too!

Sometimes you may have an accident where a friend’s tooth makes a hole in your skin!
You may have a younger brother or sister who is going through a biting people phase! You might accidentally hit someone in the face while playing sport and his/her teeth could break your skin.
Follow all the first aid hints and see a doctor if the bite gets red and swollen.
Important Animal bites can easily get infected. It is really important to keep them clean and to see a doctor quickly if there are signs of an infection.

Dr Kate says:

"Never touch any animal that you don’t know (even if it looks really cute) unless the owner is there and says that it is OK for you to touch it.

Our topic on Bites and stings can give you more advice."

Some advice from Rachel
"Treat your pets very well or maybe they will bite or scratch. Back away from strange dogs or cats."

**Please Note: The brand names of products referred to in any of these health guidelines are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all commercially available products on the market. However, those names which are mentioned are well-known brands and readily available on the market in Australia.

We've collected this information to help you to understand important things about staying healthy and happy. However, if you feel sick or unhappy, it is important to tell your mum or dad, a teacher or another grown-up.