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Animal Bites
Reviewed by Medicinsk Expert•Last updated: 2026-10-22•Injuries Wounds

Animal Bites

While wild animals generally avoid humans, bites can still occur—especially from pets—and, if infected, may lead to serious complications.

Overview

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.

Prevention

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

First Aid

If an animal bites you, clean the wound with soap and water as soon as possible. Get medical attention if necessary.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Frequently Asked Questions

You generally need a tetanus booster if it has been more than five years since your last dose, especially for dirty or puncture wounds. For minor, clean lacerations, a booster is typically recommended if it has been more than ten years since your last shot. Your doctor will assess the wound's depth and contamination level to determine if a booster is necessary.
Rabies is a fatal disease, so timing is critical. If the animal is a domestic pet, observe it for 10 days to see if it develops symptoms; if it remains healthy, rabies transmission is unlikely. If the animal is wild, escaped, or unknown, you must contact a healthcare provider immediately for post-exposure prophylaxis (vaccination and immunoglobulin), as waiting for symptoms to appear is too late for treatment.
Watch for specific warning signs such as redness spreading from the wound, increasing pain, warmth, swelling, or pus draining from the site. If you develop a fever, chills, or red streaks moving up the limb toward the heart, seek emergency care immediately, as these indicate the infection may be spreading into the bloodstream.
Immediately wash the wound thoroughly with mild soap and running water for at least five minutes to reduce the bacterial load. Apply gentle pressure with a clean cloth to stop any bleeding, then cover the area with a sterile bandage. Do not apply alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or ointments directly into deep puncture wounds, as this can damage tissue and trap bacteria.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

MedlinePlus brings together authoritative health information from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.

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