“Aw, such a cute little dog.”

“Ohhh, sweet little kitty.”

“Poor little squirrel — he’s hurt.”

So many of us love animals. I am as guilty as the next person. I love a sweet, little cuddly critter, but sometimes they don’t “love” me back. Even animals that are known to you can sometimes get upset and “nip” at the “hand that feeds them.” Only a hardhearted person would not want to help an injured animal. Approach with caution!

Two to 5 million animal bites occur annually in the United States. Children are bitten more often than adults. Eighty-five to 90 percent of these are caused by dogs, while 5-10 percent by cats and 2-3 percent by rodents. We are excluding snake bites from this article. That is a subject for another day.

Dog bites are the most frequently reported bites. Fortunately, they usually are from animals known to the person. Most dog bites occur to children. A dog bite can lead to a range of injuries from minimal scratching to deep, open puncture wounds. Cats inflict wounds with their teeth and claws. Rats claim the highest number of rodent bites, and the most reported contact problem from bats is saliva.

Deep puncture wounds are of particular concern. Bacteria can get into the tissue that surrounds the bones and joint and result in deep, serious infections. An infection will present as rapidly developing swelling, redness and intense pain.

When bitten by an animal, it is important to quickly and carefully clean the wound with soap and a large amount of water. If there is bleeding, use a clean towel or gauze to apply pressure to the area. Persons who have diabetes, liver disease, cancer, HIV-infection or take medication that could weaken the immune system should always seek medical attention.

If the bleeding is easily stopped or no bleeding occurred, the animal is known to the victim, and has been vaccinated for rabies, then immediate medical attention is not necessary. The wound should be observed for signs of infection.

Tetanus also maybe be transmitted through animal bites. If the victim has had less than three tetanus shots or does not know if he has ever had one, he should be given a tetanus vaccine.

Some animal bites are large and might require sutures. This is usually done after the wound has been thoroughly cleaned. Some wounds may be left open and be observed and cleaned daily for 72 hours before being sutured.

The most feared complication from warm-blooded animals is rabies. Luckily, there is a vaccine to prevent this disease, and all domestic animals who are subject to rabies should be vaccinated. Anyone who is bitten or attacked by a wild (undomesticated) animal such as raccoons, skunks, foxes, coyotes or bats needs immediate medical attention — even if the bite is small and does not appear to be infected. Rabies usually develops in animals within two weeks. In humans, it may take as long as three to eight weeks. In some human cases, it has appeared as long as seven years after the bite. A series of vaccines is administered for all wild animal bites to prevent rabies even if the virus likely did not enter the body. Rabies vaccine is needed for all wild animal bites and exposures to body fluids. If an unprovoked attack is received from a usually healthy pet, such as a dog, cat or ferret, and the animal is available for observation, it should be placed in a secure facility for 10 days. A rabid animal will usually succumb to rabies within five to six days. The individual who has been bitten should receive the vaccine if a domesticated animal dies within 10 days or if bitten by a wild animal.

In summary, adults and children who have been bitten or scratched by an animal should seek medical attention in the following situations:

• An animal has bitten or broken the skin and bleeding does not stop after pressure has been applied for 15 minutes;
• A dog or cat has bitten the hand, foot or head or has caused a very large wound;
• The victim has diabetes, liver disease, cancer, HIV-disease or is taking medication that might affect his immune system;
• The victim has not had a tetanus vaccine more than five years or does not know the last date of vaccine;
• If there is a concern for rabies.

Billie Whitfield, RN, CIC, is the infection preventionist at Vidant Beaufort Hospital.