How to Treat a Pet Bite Wound

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By 02SmithA
User-Submitted Article

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What if a tooth like this gets into your skin?

It is bound to happen to you or someone you know at some point in your life. You will be around an animal who either bites a human on purpose or accidentally bites a human when playing rough. What steps should you take to treat the wound?

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Gauze
Quick reactions

Step 1

Take quick action after the bite wound is created. The person who sustains the wound needs to have some gauze and put significant amounts of pressure on the wound to slow down or stop the bleeding. This is very urgent, especially in deep puncture wounds.
Step 2

After you get the bleeding to slow down, make sure you clean the wound out. Clean inside the wound even if it doesn't feel very good when cleaning it. The soap and water will help keep the wound from becoming infected.
Step 3

Look over the wound and determine what kind of bite wound it is. Puncture wounds carry the most risk since they go the deepest and are the toughest to heal.
Step 4

Call your doctor!

Always call a medical professional at the very least. While you may not want to be "inconvenienced" by going to the doctor or emergency room at the time, it is definitely necessary. Some wounds require antibiotics and only a medical professional can determine whether that is necessary.
Step 5

Often a band aid isn't enough

Opt for stitches if the wound is deep at all. Stitches help the wound heal much more thoroughly. The short term hassle of having stitches is well worth the long term relief they provide.
Step 6

Bite wounds should always be taken seriously. Animals can have rabies and severe diseases that can be transferred to the human, and these things must be treated right away. Don't delay in seeking medical care!