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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.
In depth
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