عضات الحيوانات (Animal Bites) 

Animal Bites

This page will help you prepare and respond appropriately to provide first aid for animal bites.

When do animal bites occur?

• Animal bites can occur at any time when a person is bitten by a pet or a wild animal. The danger of animal bites lies in the risk of infection transferring from the animal to the human. Some animal bites can transmit rabies, a serious viral disease. Animals known for transmitting rabies include:
• Raccoons
• Bats
• Skunks

Foxes

Therefore, if bitten by one of the animals listed above, you should go to the emergency room immediately.

• Common situations that lead to bites include:
• Being in areas with aggressive animals.
• Playing with animals of unknown origin.

Provoking your pet; for example, trying to take food from your dog while it is eating may provoke it to attack.

What are the symptoms of infection from animal bites?

• As soon as you are bitten by any animal, it’s essential to monitor the bite site for signs of infection. Symptoms of infection include:
• Localized redness around the bite.
• Feeling warmth around the bite area.
• Appearance of red streaks spreading from the bite.
• Fever.
• Pus and swelling.

Pain.

1. How to deal with animal bites?
2. First, you should wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
3. If the wound is not bleeding heavily, wash it under running water and soap for 3 to 5 minutes.
4. Carefully rinse away visible debris like hair or dirt using running water.
5. If the wound is not bleeding, gently press around it to encourage slight bleeding, which can help flush out bacteria.
6. Press firmly on the wound with a dry bandage or a clean cloth to stop heavy bleeding.

After cleaning the wound, gently dry it, apply an antibiotic ointment, and cover it with a clean bandage.

• You should visit the emergency room:
• If you were bitten by a wild animal.
• If you think there is still something in the bite wound, like teeth, hair, or dirt.
• If you feel warmth, heat, or changes in skin color around the bite site.
• If you have a fever.
• If fluids are coming from the bite.
• If there is a foul odor from the bite site.
• If you were bitten on your hands, feet, head, neck, or near joints.
• If you were bitten by a human.
• If you cannot stop the bleeding.
• If the bite wound is large and deep.

If it has been 5 years since your last tetanus shot.

Emergency numbers in the Gulf region:

Oman: 9999

Saudi Arabia: 997

Kuwait: 112

Qatar: 999

UAE: 998

Bahrain: 999