First aid for wounds caused by animal bites

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Posted by Master, Doctor Pham Khac Tiep - Pediatric Center - Vinmec Times City International Hospital

Accidents caused by animal bites are very common, especially domestic pets such as dogs and cats...So when bitten, how should people handle it?

1. How to give first aid to minor animal bites

The first step is to stop the bleeding: Apply pressure directly to the wound with your hand or bandage until the bleeding stops. Then clean the wound: For superficial wounds or scratches caused by animal bites:
Clean the area with warm water and mild soap. Alcohol should not be used to clean the wound, as this may delay healing. An antibiotic ointment can be applied to reduce the risk of infection. If an allergic reaction occurs, discontinue use immediately. Next is to place a sterile bandage over the wound site and then cover it.

2. When bitten by an animal, you need to go to the hospital

Xử lý khi bị chó, mèo cắn — Khi bị chó cắn cần xử trí tại chỗ và đưa người bệnh đến bệnh viện thăm khám ngay

After local treatment, you need to take the patient to the hospital for examination because animal bites carry a very high risk of infection. In particular, seek immediate medical attention if:
The wound is bleeding severely or the bleeding cannot be stopped after 10 minutes of strong pressure on the wound site Bitten by wild or stray animals, regardless of severity severity of the wound. If you know the animal's owner (especially if bitten by a dog), find out if the animal's rabies shots are up to date. This information should be communicated to the attending physician. If the animal is a stray or wild animal, report it to the local authorities.

3. Treatment and follow-up

The doctor will clean the wound for the patient and may prescribe antibiotics. If the wound is deep, the doctor may numb the wound and administer sutures, depending on the size of the wound and its location.
If there is any risk of rabies transmission, the doctor will recommend rabies vaccination for the sick person. Or, a tetanus shot may be required.
Your doctor may prescribe acetaminophen or ibuprofen if needed.
Vinmec International General Hospital with a system of modern facilities, medical equipment and a team of experts and doctors with many years of experience in medical examination and treatment, patients can rest assured to visit. Examination and treatment of animal bite wounds at the Hospital.

Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.

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This article is written for readers from Sài Gòn, Hà Nội, Hồ Chí Minh, Phú Quốc, Nha Trang, Hạ Long, Hải Phòng, Đà Nẵng.