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What to do if bitten by a cat or dog?

In daily life, dog and cat bites are not uncommon. Whether we are attacked by a family pet or a stray animal, we should be prepared, know the correct methods of handling it, and even take preventive measures.


If you are bitten by a cat or dog, you should take the following measures immediately:

immediately with mild soap and water to reduce the growth of germs. Then, use a clean towel to gently apply pressure on the wound to help stop bleeding. Then use a sterile dressing to wrap it gently to prevent further infection from external bacteria. At the same time, elevating the injured area above the level of the heart can help reduce swelling and prevent the spread of infection.

However, some serious bites may require further medical attention. If the following situations occur, you should contact your doctor immediately: If the bleeding does not stop after applying pressure to stop the bleeding for 15 minutes; you suspect that you may have a fracture, nerve damage, or other serious injury; the wound has symptoms of infection, such as redness, swelling, heat, and pus. or you have signs of fever; you have diabetes or another disease that affects your immune system, such as liver or lung disease, cancer, or AIDS; or it has been more than 5 years since your last tetanus vaccination.

Treatment for dog and cat bites varies depending on the severity of the injury. Your doctor may check for signs of infection, clean the wound with a special solution and remove damaged tissue, close the wound with sutures (although open wounds usually heal faster and are less susceptible to infection), and prescribe antibiotics to prevent infection. If it has been more than 5 years since your last tetanus vaccination, your doctor may give you a revaccination.


How to prevent being bitten?

Choose the right family pet and make sure their vaccinations are up to date on a regular basis. Young children, especially when around pets, should be supervised by adults, as children may not be able to properly understand and handle interactions with pets, which may lead to pet anger and bites. For cat and dog bites, we should understand the correct response strategies, take timely measures, and actively prevent them in our daily lives to ensure our own safety. Let's understand and communicate these messages in a new way that not only emphasizes safety but also encourages understanding and respect for animals.

No matter what kind of animal you are bitten by, you should report the incident to the appropriate authorities, which may be animal control or the police. This is done for the safety of us all and out of respect and protection for the animals. Only by understanding and respecting animals can we truly achieve harmonious coexistence with them.

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Editor: kiki Jia

Date: February 23, 2023