Also called: Also called: Cat bites, Dog bites
Wild animals usually avoid people. They might attack, however, if they feel threatened, are sick, or are protecting their young or territory. Attacks by pets are more common. Animal bites rarely are life-threatening, but if they become infected, you can develop serious medical problems.
To prevent animal bites and complications from bites
- Never pet, handle or feed unknown animals
- Leave snakes alone
- Watch your children closely around animals
- Vaccinate your cats, ferrets and dogs against rabies
- Spay or neuter your dog to make it less aggressive
- Get a tetanus booster if you have not had one recently
- Wear boots and long pants when you are in areas with venomous snakes
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Cat and Dog Bites(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/healthy/firstaid/bites/203.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/healthy/firstaid/bites/203.printerview.html
- How to Stay Safe around Animals(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/kid/watch/house/animals.html
- Animal Bites(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00002
- Dog Bite Risk for Kids Greatest in Summer(03/08/2009, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_81454.html
- Animal Bites: First Aid(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/first-aid-animal-bites/FA00044/METHOD=print
- Human Bites: First Aid(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/first-aid-human-bites/FA00057/METHOD=print
- Jellyfish Stings, First Aid(Logical Images) - http://www.visualdxhealth.com/firstaid/firstAidJellyfishStings.htm
- Snakebites: First Aid(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/first-aid-snake-bites/FA00047/METHOD=print
- Animal-Associated Hazards: Health Information for International Travel(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/yellowBookCh6-Animal.aspx
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Snakebites: Reducing Your Risk(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/healthy/firstaid/bites/153.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/healthy/firstaid/bites/153.printerview.html
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What You Should Know about Dog Bite Prevention(American Veterinary Medical Association) - http://www.avma.org/animal_health/brochures/dog_bite/dog_bite_brochure.asp
Also available in Spanish http://www.avma.org/animal_health/brochures/dog_bite/dog_bite_brochure_spanish.asp
- Animal and Human Bites of the Hand(American Society for Surgery of the Hand) - http://www.assh.org/Public/HandConditions/Pages/AnimalBites.aspx
- Lizard Bites(Merck & Co., Inc.) - http://www.merck.com/mmhe/print/sec24/ch298/ch298e.html
- Marine Animal Stings and Bites(Merck & Co., Inc.) - http://www.merck.com/mmhe/print/sec24/ch298/ch298l.html
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Can I Get HIV from a Bite?(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/qa/qa33.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/spanish/resources/qa/qa33.htm
- Snakebite(DSHI Systems) - http://www.freemd.com/snakebite/visit-virtual-doctor.htm
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Bites and Stings
(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Bites+and+Stings%22
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Snake Bites(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Snake+Bites%22
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Snakebit. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19363915&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: New Zealand's venomous creatures. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19319171&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Analysis of nonfatal dog bites in children. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19276721&tool=MedlinePlus
- Animal Bites -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=(bites+and+stings[majr]+AND+(dogs[mh]+OR+cats[mh]))+OR+snake+bites[mh]+NOT+(rabies[mh]+OR+veterinary+medicine[mh])+AND+humans[mh]+AND+english[la]+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- American Academy of Family Physicians - http://familydoctor.org/
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - http://www.cdc.gov/
Also available in Spanish http://www.cdc.gov/spanish/
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Dog Bites: How to Teach Your Children to Be Safe(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/healthy/safety/kids-family/668.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/healthy/safety/kids-family/668.printerview.html
- How to Stay Safe around Animals(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/kid/watch/house/animals.html
- Animal Diseases and Your Health - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/animaldiseasesandyourhealth.html
- Cat Scratch Disease - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/catscratchdisease.html
- Insect Bites and Stings - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/insectbitesandstings.html
- Monkeypox Virus Infections - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/monkeypoxvirusinfections.html
- Rabies - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/rabies.html
- Immune System - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/immunesystem.html
- Injuries and Wounds - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/injuriesandwounds.html
Animal Bites - Multiple Languages - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/languages/animalbites.html