Cat Bite First Aid

Signs of infection include swelling redness oozing puss and fever.

Cat bite first aid.

Any bee sting or insect bite has the potential to cause problems ranging from a minor local reaction pain swelling or itching to a more serious one hives facial swelling vomiting trouble breathing and in rare cases collapse. Every cat owner has found him or herself on the business end of a cat s claws at least once. Any bite should be cleaned immediately and assessed by a physician as soon as possible as antibiotics are frequently needed to treat infection. Because cat bites usually cover a small area you will probably be able to cover it with an over the counter adhesive band aid.

What you should do for a cat bite or scratch. If you see signs of infection from a cat bite contact your doctor immediately as this is an emergency situation. Surprisingly out of all bites cat bites are some of the most dangerous. Symptoms and first aid reviewed by the clinical committee.

They can coil around you alluringly but they also can scratch and bite. Treating a cat bite should always start with the safety of all involved including the patient the rescuer and if possible the cat. Part 2 of 4. Infections can lead to cellulitis an infection of the skin and underlying tissues or enter the bloodstream causing septicemia or blood poisoning.

Cover all areas where the skin was broken with a clean band aid. How to treat a cat bite. As much as humans interact with felines cats it s no wonder that cat bites are common injuries especially in children. All bite injuries have the potential to be dangerous.

Cats use their mouths and claws to communicate and this behavior is absolutely normal but it is still an unpleasant. Your doctor may recommend vaccination with tetanus or rabies prophylaxis. At least that s what the cat would say. If the bite was caused by a wild animal seek advice from your doctor about which animals are most likely to carry rabies.

Written by steve corelli. The following are common feline emergencies and instructions for first aid. Dry the bite first to help the band aid stick. University of maryland medical center.

They are more likely to get infected and require medical attention. How to administer first aid for an animal bite. If the bite was caused by a cat or a dog try to confirm that the animal s rabies vaccination is up to date. If a cat scratches or bites you you need to act quickly to prevent.