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Bites - human and animal - Management
How should an animal bite be cared for initially?

  • If possible remove any foreign bodies (e.g. teeth) from the wound.
  • If the wound has just occurred, encourage it to bleed, unless it is already bleeding freely.
  • Irrigate thoroughly with warm, running water.
  • Wound closure is rarely advised in primary care. For more information see When to close an animal bite wound.
  • Advise analgesia (ibuprofen or paracetamol) for pain relief, if required.
  • Prescribe prophylactic antibiotics if the wound is less than 48 hours old and the risk of infection is high.
  • Consider if tetanus prophylaxis is required.
Basis for recommendation
  • These recommendations are based on expert opinion from the published medical literature [HPA, 2005b; HPA, 2006c; Morgan and Palmer, 2007].
  • Although tetanus after animal bites is rare, all guidelines in common use advise tetanus prophylaxis, with immunoglobulin and toxoid to be administered to patients with a history of two or fewer immunizations.
  • Irrigation of the wound removes dirt and bacteria, minimizing the risk of infection.
  • There is no evidence to support irrigating a deep penetrating wound with normal saline using a needle or catheter, but it is common practice.
  • Antiseptic cleansers are not necessary, and there is some concern that they damage tissue and delay wound healing [Hollander and Singer, 1999].

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