In most cases, animals bite children. That is why it is very important that parents tell them as often as possible about the rules of behavior with the animals that surround them. It is also important that parents be able to convey to their beloved child the danger of communicating with neglected, as well as wild animals. Even the most harmless at first glance, animals can be the so-called carriers of various extremely dangerous pathologies. The wrong behavior of the baby in relation to the animal can cause quite a strong aggression on the part of the latter. It is extremely dangerous to approach sick pets. It is also necessary to take into account the fact that sometimes children do not always talk about what happened, which is why it is very important to convey to the child that when bitten by an animal, he is simply obliged to tell his parents about it, and the sooner, the better.

As a rule, animals bite in the upper and lower limbs. Only in very rare cases, the bite can fall on the chest, face or neck. Since a huge number of pathogens live in the mouth of almost every animal, their bites can cause the development of a wide variety of pathologies, which in turn can provoke the development of numerous consequences. The most harmless disease in this case is considered to be bitten-lacerated wounds or deep scratches. Among the same ailments can be attributed to cat scratches.

Child psychologists say that children who grow up "in the company" of pets - dogs, cats, hamsters, guinea pigs and even fish - demonstrate a higher level of intelligence in the future, and also have more developed adaptive abilities. But is it safe to communicate with small children and pets?

What pets do we and our children most often deal with? The list is short: cats, dogs, hamsters, guinea pigs and rats (although the demand for rodents has clearly fallen recently, as soon as dwarf breeds of dogs and cats became available in a huge assortment), birds and fish.

And it is natural that living under the same roof, our children from the first days of life are actively in contact with pets. Most often these contacts are useful, but in some cases they are dangerous ...

Cats: cute, yet kind

At first glance, a pet is cuter than cats (and especially kittens) and can not be found. They are affectionate, affectionate, according to the owners, they feel the mood and health problems of their household well and subtly. But, as you know, unlike dogs, cats are very obstinate. And if cases when a cat bit an adult or a child are extremely rare, then incidents when she seriously scratched one of her owners, on the contrary, occur all the time. Can cat scratches be seriously dangerous for a baby?

It turns out they can. Medical science even knows such an ailment as an infectious disease of cat scratches, more scientifically - felinosis. It is caused by specific bacteria that "live" on cats, and mainly on small kittens.

In 90% of cases, children become ill with felinosis, “picking up” dangerous bacteria from the claws of cute charming kittens.

The incubation period of the disease lasts from 3 to 21 days. The first noticeable symptoms are:

  • Scratches do not heal for a long time;
  • The axillary and elbow lymph nodes increase in size;
  • Increased body temperature.

Treatment of felinosis, as a rule, is long and difficult (anti-inflammatory therapy should be selected strictly individually). Therefore, firstly, if possible, stop too playful bodily contacts of your baby with a domestic cat in order to avoid scratches, and secondly, if symptoms of the disease appear, immediately show the baby to the doctor.

Felinosis, of course, is an unpleasant disease. However, even it does not negate the fact that the presence of a cat in the house brings more benefits and pleasure than harm and problems. Especially for a little girl...

Why is it vital for girls to communicate with cats

The point here is not at all to satisfy some cute girlish feelings generated by the subtle mental organization that distinguishes every girl and girl. The need for a cat in this case pursues purely pragmatic goals.

The bottom line is that there is a special microbe - toxoplasmosis, which causes a disease with a similar name - toxoplasmosis. To a healthy adult, toxoplasmosis, as a rule, is not terrible - the disease is completely asymptomatic, the body copes with it perfectly. Many people do not even suspect that at one time they had already had toxoplasmosis.

However, toxoplasmosis is extremely dangerous for a pregnant woman, but not because it can harm her. But because it can cause serious damage to the health of the unborn child - cause such terrible malformations of the fetus, in which the only way out is to terminate the pregnancy.

Veterinarians will not let you lie - 100% of cats are infected with Toxoplasma. And when this microbe enters the body of a still young girl (even a baby), she develops strong immunity to it. And it is this immunity that, years later, protects the unborn child when the girl (at that time already a girl, a woman) becomes pregnant.

If you cannot afford to keep a cat in own house, at least come up with a scenario according to which your baby will spend at least a couple of months in the company of a cat - visiting a cat lady, visiting your friends, in a rented cottage, etc.

But before you buy a purring fluffy for your home, make sure that you and your family members do not.

To do this, it is enough to visit friends or relatives who already have a cat, sit with them for several hours, cuddle the animal, and then take a closer look at your well-being and the health of your children. If you notice a rash on the skin, watery eyes, signs of difficulty breathing - you will have to wait with the acquisition of "murka", but instead you should go to an appointment with an allergist. And if you don’t notice anything like that, feel free to bring a new tenant into the house.

If there is a dog in the house, then the child has ... worms?

Those parents of babies who, in addition to taking care of children, also take care of the dog living in the house, are always terribly worried about worms. After all, babies and dogs never figure out where whose toys are - they together, as a single and friendly team, cheerfully drag everything they see in their path into their mouths. Especially if, and the rubber balls of the “mukhtar” squeak so loudly around the apartment here and there ...

It is enough to give the dog anthelmintic medicines from time to time, and take the child’s feces for analysis (which you most likely do about once every six months, even if you don’t have any pets at all).

Most often, in the minds of parents, the bite of a dog (especially a wild, homeless one) is associated with the likelihood of a child being infected with rabies, a terrible and incurable disease. How much do you know about the disease itself? Let's fill in the gaps:

  • 1 Rabies isn't just for dogs! Any warm-blooded animal can theoretically carry the rabies virus. For example, in India, people most often die of rabies after being bitten by bats. As a parent, you must remember that if your baby has been bitten by a warm-blooded animal (wolf, fox, dog, cat, guinea pig, rat, etc.), and the animal’s saliva has obviously got into the child’s blood, then it is most reasonable to contact health workers as soon as possible and vaccinate.
  • 2 There are preventive measures against rabies - for example, those very well-known "40 injections in the stomach", which today have long been replaced by more humane measures, help introduce antibodies into the body that have time to overcome the infection at a stage before the incubation period has ended virus period. That is, a vaccine that is administered to people bitten by a supposedly infected animal does not kill the disease, but only helps to eliminate infection.
  • 3 Rabies occurs all over the world except Antarctica.
  • 4 According to WHO, rabies kills about 60,000 people every year.
  • 5 If an infection has occurred, it is impossible to cure a person of rabies - he will inevitably die.

What action should you take if your child has been bitten by an animal:

  • 1 Immediately after a bite, wash the wound with plenty of soapy water. The more soap in the water, the better. It is most reasonable to grate laundry or any other soap into a basin of water, stir, and thoroughly rinse the bite site with this water. Then, a little of any antibacterial ointment should be put on the wound, and a bandage should be applied, but not tightly, but so that air must enter the wound area.
  • 2 If the child was bitten by a non-domestic animal (wild, street, homeless) and disappeared from sight, the child must be immediately shown to the doctor and vaccinated against rabies.
  • 3 If the baby was bitten by an animal that can be observed (for example, it is a neighbor's dog, or a cat that always lives in this yard, etc.) - you need to look after him daily for the appearance of symptoms of the disease. The most obvious and dangerous sign is that the animal is afraid of water, does not drink or eat a drop, and saliva constantly comes out of its mouth. Regardless of whether the animal shows symptoms of the disease or not, the baby must still be shown to the doctor, but vaccination in this case is not required (if the animal does not have external signs disease).
  • 4 If within 10 days the animal has not shown symptoms of the disease - it is active, eats and drinks well, plays, etc., then most likely it is not a source of rabies.
  • 5 Finally, remember: if you or your child is bitten by an animal that has an owner, he is legally obliged to contact the veterinary service, check the animal for rabies and notify you of the results. If he refuses to do this, you have the right to contact the police.

By biting children, animals can infect them not only with rabies. In the saliva of animals lives a whole community of all kinds of harmful bacteria. Therefore, no matter what animal bites your baby, the best option actions - treat the wound and see a doctor.

According to statistics, about half of cat bites turn into one or another infectious disease for children, the risk of infection from dog bites is about 30% (although dogs bite much more often than cats).

It's funny that if a child is bitten by ... another child, in this case, the probability of contracting some kind of infection is 40%. That is, potentially people for other people are a greater threat than dogs.

Village pranks and salmonellosis

Summer in the countryside is, of course, a wonderful vacation for children and adults: clean air, nature, the most effective prevention of flat feet (especially if your baby has just mastered upright walking and runs barefoot all day around the yard), fresh food and other joys. But even village animals can be potentially dangerous for children, especially small ones.

Most strictly it is necessary to monitor the communication of the child with chickens, ducklings, geese and other poultry. Almost without exception, these village birds (as well as most animals) are carriers of bacteria of the genus Salmonella, which cause.

Salmonellosis is one of the most common infectious diseases in the world. Most often, salmonellosis affects children in the first year of life.

As a rule, infection of people occurs through food, but if you feed your baby with proven, high-quality industrial products, then the risk is minimal. But the direct contact of the child with the carrier of the disease is a real and very high probability of getting the disease. Explain to the baby that it is forbidden to pick up chickens or ducklings, as well as kiss them or play with them.

The incubation period for salmonellosis is 3-4 days. The first signs of the disease:

  • An increase in body temperature (suddenly and strongly - up to 39 degrees);
  • Chills and weakness;
  • Headache and body aches (the baby will become whiny, will spin all the time, will not be able to lie still and fall asleep);
  • Vomiting and diarrhea (similar to marsh slurry - frothy, greenish, watery). After some time, streaks of blood can be seen in the stools.

As soon as you find these symptoms in your crumbs, immediately take him to a doctor, best of all - to an infectious disease specialist. And try to water the child as often and as plentifully as possible (any liquid will do - water, tea, fruit drink, etc.)

How to prepare your pet for the arrival of a newborn

When a new person appears in a house or apartment - your newborn - along with him, dramatic changes take place in the way of the family: the house is filled with new smells and sounds, and new rules of being.

For pets, as well as for the household itself, these changes are a source of some stress. But if you can explain and explain something to people, then the animal (cat or dog) in a state of stress becomes very unpredictable - they can get sick, become apathetic or, on the contrary, overly nervous, even aggressive ...

To avoid this, you can prepare your pets to some extent for the appearance of a new tenant in the house. To do this, it makes sense to do the following:

  • Buy bulky items at home in advance - a crib and stroller, a carrier, a car seat, etc. Let the dog or cat get used to the new environment, sniff these objects, but at the same time, you must make it clear to the animal that it absolutely cannot go to bed on this “furniture”, put food and toys, etc.
  • As soon as your baby is born, have someone in the household take the diaper or towel that the baby has already been wrapped in and put these little things in the baby's room. Dogs and cats are incredibly sensitive to new smells and take some time to get used to them. But when you bring the child into the house, your pet will perceive the baby already as a creature familiar to him.

Rabies(Rabies, hydrophobia Lyssa, hydrophobia, rabies) is an acute viral infectious disease that affects both animals and people, and the pathogen of which is transmitted by contact as a result of a bite or salivation of damaged mucous membranes or skin. The disease is characterized by progressive damage to the central nervous system, fatal to humans. Rabies widespread in the world. Every year in our country, hundreds of cases of illness are registered among wild (foxes, raccoon dogs, wolves, hedgehogs, etc.) and domestic (dogs, cats, cattle, horses) animals and more than 10 deaths of hydrophobia among people. Almost all regions Russian Federation there is an activation of natural foci (territories within which the microorganism lives in the natural environment) rabies animals. source rabies is a wild animal that has become infected in such outbreaks, as well as a domestic animal that has been attacked by another sick animal. Diseased animals infect humans.

Symptoms of the disease in animals

The duration of the incubation period (that is, the period preceding the onset of symptoms of the disease) in animals ranges from a week to several months (sometimes years), but already 5-10 days before the manifestations of the disease, the animal is contagious. A change in behavior should be considered a characteristic sign of animal disease in the first stage: an angry animal becomes affectionate, unreasonably animated, tries to lick the owner in the face; good - angry, irritable, does not go to the call of the owner, hides in dark corners. The animal refuses its favorite food, but swallows inedible objects (wood, stones, etc.), sometimes there is an increased sensitivity to light, noise. The body temperature rises slightly. If we talk about wild animals, then for those who are sick, this change will be the desire to make contact with a person: a healthy wild animal will never voluntarily go to a person and will run away at any attempt to approach. The initial stage of the disease is replaced by the second - the stage of excitation, in which the irritability of the animal increases, aggressiveness occurs: a sick dog attacks other animals and people, refuses food and water, barking becomes hoarse, swallowing is difficult, salivation is increased. Then comes the third, paralytic, stage, very characteristic of the appearance of the animal: the hair is ruffled, the lower jaw sags, the tongue falls out, saliva flows from the mouth. On the 8-10th day the animal dies.

The course of the disease in humans

people's susceptibility to rabies is not universal (that is, not everyone who has contact with a sick animal gets sick) and is determined by the general condition of the human body, its immunity, and also the bite site. From several hours to several days, the virus is at the site of introduction, from where it rapidly spreads throughout nerve fibers and reaches the central nervous system. Especially dangerous are bites in the face, neck and hands (see table). Table. Criteria for the severity of bites depending on the location and nature of the damage.

Severity of bites Damage localization Nature of damage Animal category
heavy Head, face, neck, fingers Multiple or extensive wild; a patient with an established diagnosis; killed or disappeared and has not been investigated; inflicted unprovoked bites on humans
Medium Brush Surface single scratches Healthy, but living in a disadvantaged area; incorrectly contained
Light Forearm, shoulder, torso, lower limbs Single, shallow scratches Healthy, properly maintained; taken under veterinary supervision

The incubation period in humans is 7-90 days, sometimes a year or more. The different duration of the incubation period is associated with various factors: the location of the bite (the shortest incubation period for bites to the head, hands; the longest - for bites to the feet), the age of the bitten (shorter in children than adults), the type of animal that bit, size and the depth of the wound, the dose of the pathogen that got into the wound. In the clinical picture rabies in humans, the following periods are distinguished: the initial (depressive), the period of excitation, the paralytic period. Initial period lasts 1-3 days. The first signs of the disease are found at the site of the bite: a healing wound or scar swells again, turns red, itches, and pains appear. There is malaise, headache, dry mouth, loss of appetite. There is an increased sensitivity to visual and auditory stimuli, sometimes a feeling of tightness in the chest and throat. The body temperature rises to 37.0-38.0 degrees C. Patients experience causeless fear, anxiety, sleep is disturbed. Nausea, vomiting, sweating join. Comes in 2-3 days excitation period . Indifference and depression are replaced by anxiety. Breathing and swallowing disorders appear and progress. When you try to drink, at the sight of water, its murmur, splash, even a verbal mention of it, an attack of hydrophobia occurs (feeling of horror and painful spasms of the muscles of the pharynx and larynx). Attacks can be provoked by the movement of air (aerophobia), bright light (photophobia), loud sound (acoustophobia). After 1-2 days, profuse painful salivation appears. Body temperature is high. Cardiovascular and respiratory disorders increase, excruciating convulsions occur. Patients become aggressive. Attacks are accompanied by clouding of consciousness with the development of auditory and visual hallucinations. At the time of the attack, cardiac and respiratory arrest is possible. The duration of the excitation period is 2-3 days, rarely up to 6 days. If during the attack the patient does not die, the disease 1-3 days before death passes into terminal (paralytic) stage . It is characterized by calm, improvement. Breathing becomes freer. Fear disappears, it becomes possible to eat and drink. Along with this, lethargy, apathy (detachment from the outside world), increased salivation increase, and paralysis of various localizations appears. Death occurs from paralysis of the heart or respiratory center. The total duration of the disease is 3-7 days, in rare cases - up to 2-3 weeks. specific therapy rabies does not exist. You can only alleviate the general condition of the victim. The patient is isolated in a separate room (box). Service personnel must work in protective clothing that excludes salivation of the skin and mucous membranes; if the patient's saliva gets on them, emergency prophylaxis with anti-rabies drugs is indicated. The prognosis for the developed disease is unfavorable. Reliable cases of recovery from rabies No. For this reason, prevention rabies acquires exclusively importance in the fight against this disease. It includes the control of sources of infection (rabid animals) and the prevention of disease in humans.

  • Register the acquired animal in the state veterinary station for the control of animal diseases of the given district or administrative district.
  • Mandatory annually vaccinate your pet (older than 3 months) against rabies, it is better to do this in the winter-spring period, especially before going out into the countryside. Vaccinations against rabies are carried out free of charge on the basis of district (district) state veterinary stations, or on a commercial basis in any veterinary clinic.
  • Walk animals on specially equipped sites or wastelands, take dogs outside on leashes and in muzzles (this will protect the animal from possible contact with a sick wild or neglected animal and exclude the possibility of your animal biting anyone). In no case should you leave or leave your animals unattended on the streets, squares, markets, entrances and other places, including in the country.
  • Report abandoned or unwanted animals to the district (district) fauna specialists, charitable foundations or shelters for homeless animals, or the district (district) veterinary station for animal disease control.
  • For any disease of the animal, and especially when symptoms appear rabies(excessive salivation, difficulty swallowing, convulsions, inappropriate behavior), immediately contact the nearest state veterinary animal control station or veterinary clinic. In no case do not self-medicate the animal - it is deadly!
  • If a person is bitten by your animal, tell the victim your address and bring the dog or cat for examination and observation within 10 days by a veterinarian of the state district veterinary station. In some cases, if there is a fenced yard or a securely closed outyard, with the permission of a veterinary medical institution, an animal that has bitten people and / or animals may, as an exception, be left on receipt from the owner, who undertakes to keep him securely tied in an isolated room for 10 days and submit for veterinary examination within the time period specified by the veterinarian supervising the animal.
  • Pet owners bear full administrative, and in case of serious injury and / or death of the victim, criminal liability for violation of the rules for keeping animals.

Special attention to children!

Children are more likely to suffer from animal bites, so it is necessary to constantly conduct explanatory work with them and try to avoid unnecessary contact with animals, especially wild and / or neglected ones. Do not play with unfamiliar dogs, cats or other animals. You should not pick up in the country, in the forest, etc. wild animals. Hedgehogs and small rodents can also be carriers rabies. Incorrect or inadequate behavior of a child who, due to age, will not be able to correctly assess the situation, can lead to aggression of any, and even more so, a sick animal. It is better not to pick up homeless stray or sick animals, but if they have, then find an opportunity to vaccinate this animal in a short time and show it to a veterinarian. You should not take the animal "for the summer holiday season»: by throwing it away, you increase the risk of rabies in this region. It is better not to send children under 12-14 years old to walk the dog on their own, especially if it is an animal of a large and / or aggressive breed. The child may not be able to cope with it, and in the case of a non-standard situation, he will not be able to adequately explain the essence of what happened. It should be borne in mind that the child may forget and not tell his parents about minor injuries, especially if the contact was with an apparently healthy animal for a short period of time.

What to do if bitten by an animal?

If a child or an adult has been bitten, scratched, licked by any animal, even outwardly healthy, and even more so neglected or wild, or if there is a suspicion that it is sick with rabies, you should immediately wash the wound intensively for 10 minutes with soap and water, which will wash off the saliva of the animal apply a sterile dressing. After that, in the shortest possible time, you should contact the nearest trauma center or any medical institution (clinic, hospital, medical center). If possible, it is necessary to collect as much data as possible about the bitten animal. The injured persons are examined in the trauma center, asked which animal and under what circumstances they contacted, how the animal behaved, what provoked its attack, whether this pet or the victim met him for the first time, etc. In parallel with this, the wound is treated, washed with soapy water and treated with a concentrated alcohol solution of iodine. It should be noted that the edges of the wounds after bites are not excised. surgical instruments and they are not sutured, as this leads to additional tissue trauma and a shortening of the incubation period rabies(if infection nevertheless occurred) except when surgical intervention is necessary for health reasons. Suturing is indicated only in the following cases:

  • with extensive wounds - several suggestive skin sutures after preliminary treatment of the wound;
  • according to cosmetic indications (applying skin sutures to wounds of the face);
  • stitching of bleeding vessels in order to stop external bleeding.

Since particles of earth could get into the wound, serum is administered to the victims to prevent tetanus. Prescribing a course of vaccinations against rabies determined on the basis of clinical and epidemiological data, the results of a laboratory study of the bitten animal. Depending on this, vaccinations are either not prescribed at all, or they are prescribed according to conditional and unconditional indications. Vaccinations are not given with small bites, if the bitten one has already been vaccinated against rabies regardless of the statute of limitations. They are also not prescribed for single shallow bites (except for the head and fingers) in an area prone to rabies incidence; when bitten by vaccinated animals; when salivating intact skin, if the bitten animal was healthy at that moment (certificate of a veterinary worker). However, in any case, the animal must be observed for 10 days. If during this period the animal is diagnosed or suspected of having rabies, the bitten animal immediately begins to be vaccinated against rabies. Vaccinations are also not prescribed for bites of cold-blooded animals (snakes, lizards, turtles), for the use of heat-treated milk and meat from animals with rabies. When bitten by poultry, vaccinations are prescribed only if the bird is clearly sick with rabies. When bitten by healthy-looking animals that can be monitored for 10 days, prescribe conditional vaccination course (2-4 injections), the dosage and duration of which are determined depending on the location and severity of the bites. In cases where the bitten animal is clinically or laboratory diagnosed rabies, as well as in cases where the diagnosis could not be established (the animal disappeared, the corpse was destroyed, etc.), as well as when bitten by wild birds, the bitten person is prescribed unconditional vaccination course .

How are vaccinations made?

For active immunoprophylaxis, a dry inactivated cultural anti-rabies vaccine (CAV) is used - RABIVAK-VNUKOVO-32 or dry inactivated concentrated culture-based purified rabies vaccine (COCAV), as well as rabies immunoglobulin (RAI). Exist detailed diagrams therapeutic and prophylactic immunization for each vaccine, taking into account the severity of the bite and the nature of contact with animals (saliva, scratching, etc.), data on the animal, etc. The course of therapeutic and prophylactic immunization of a person with CAV is 21 days with revaccination on the 10th, 20th and 35th day after the end of the main course (in case of severe injuries). The KOKAV immunization course consists of 6 injections: the first injection is administered on the day of treatment, then one injection on the 3rd, 7th, 14th, 30th, 90th days. The vaccine is injected into the deltoid muscle of the shoulder at a dose of 1.0 ml. For bites to the head, hands, multiple bites of other localization, for any bites of wild carnivores - foxes, raccoon dogs, wolves, etc. (i.e. in cases of high risk of rabies), a combined course of vaccination with anti-rabies immunoglobulin and vaccine is prescribed. If the victim before the bite was vaccinated against rabies according to the full scheme and he has a sufficient level of protective proteins - antibodies (they conduct a blood serum test for the content of antiviral antibodies), he is vaccinated according to the "0-3" scheme (the first injection is administered on the day of treatment, the second on the 3rd day) without use of immunoglobulin. After the introduction of the vaccine in the human body, after a while, antibodies appear that destroy the virus. rabies. To prevent the development of the disease, it is necessary that they appear in sufficient quantities as early as possible. Timely vaccination (in the first 2-3 hours after the bite) prevents the onset of the disease in 97-99% of cases. The introduction of the rabies vaccine may in some cases be accompanied by a normal vaccinal local or general reaction. The local reaction is characterized by slight swelling, redness, itching and swollen lymph nodes. The general reaction is characterized by mild headache, dizziness, nausea, slight fever. There are no contraindications for administering the rabies vaccine after a bite. Please note that vaccinations against rabies are free of charge, regardless of whether you have a compulsory health insurance policy. In conclusion, I would like to say: everything depends only on us! Our health is no exception. How and with what responsibility we will treat ourselves, the people and animals around us, this will be the result.

Tetanus is a very serious, often fatal disease. It is caused by tetanus bacillus, which enters the body through the wound surface of the skin. It is in the ground, dust. The disease is not transmitted from person to person. The main role in the development of the disease belongs to toxin that the wand produces. The toxin affects the nervous system.

Rabies immunoglobulin is a preparation made on the basis of the blood serum of a horse previously immunized against rabies.

Animal Bites

Description

An animal bite is an injury caused by an animal's teeth. Teeth pierce, tear, scrape, or crush human tissue. Injury can result in damage to the skin, nerves, bones, muscles, blood vessels, or joints.

Causes of animal bites

Most bites occur when the animal has been provoked. Animals infected with rabies bite without provocation.

Risk factors

Most bites occur in children and young adults. Men are affected more often than women. Biting occurs more often in warm weather.

Animal bite symptoms

Bite symptoms include pain and bleeding.

Bacteria commonly found in the animal's mouth, animal infection (rabies), or microbes found on the skin or in the environment can enter the wound.

Symptoms of an infection include:

  • redness around the wound;
  • Pain;
  • Burning;
  • Swelling;
  • Sensitivity;
  • Pus oozing from the wound;
  • Fever.

Diagnosis of animal bites

The doctor asks how the bite happened, what animal caused the bite. The doctor examines the wound and assesses damage to nearby muscles, tendons, nerves, and bones. If the wound is infected, the doctor may use a swab to take a sample for testing.

Other tests may include:

  • X-ray - to check the integrity of the bones;
  • Computed tomography - Evaluation for traumatic brain injury in young children.

Animal bite treatment

Treatment is aimed at speeding up healing, reducing the risk of infection, and preventing complications. If the biting dog has been vaccinated, the victim is able to heal minor wounds on their own. However, you must first seek medical attention. Getting the necessary medical attention within the first 24 hours after a bite reduces the chance of infection.

It is necessary to seek medical help in the following situations:

  • Bites of wild animals (bites of rabbits and rodents (gophers, mice, rats)). The likelihood of contracting rabies is low;
  • A bite from a cat or a person (these bites are especially prone to developing a quick and serious infection);
  • Deep or large wounds;
  • Infection;
  • It has been five years or more since the last tetanus vaccination.

Regardless of the severity of the bite, you should consult a doctor if you have chronic diseases, such as:

  • Diabetes;
  • Liver disease;
  • heart or lung disease;
  • arthritis or lupus;
  • poor blood circulation;
  • Immunodeficiency.

Self-treatment after an animal bite

After an animal bite is necessary;

  • Wash the wound with soap and water for at least five minutes;
  • Use a clean towel to stop bleeding;
  • If bleeding does not stop within 15 minutes, seek immediate medical attention;
  • Apply a sterile dressing to an open wound;
  • Elevate the bite area above the level of the heart to reduce swelling
  • Keep the bandage clean and dry;
  • Check the bite site regularly for signs of infection.

Medical care after an animal bite

The doctor can clean the wound by rubbing the cloth with plenty of liquid. Debris and dead tissue in the wound must be removed. If necessary, the wound is sutured, but often the bite site is left open to reduce the risk of infection. After 24 hours after the bite, the doctor may use adhesive strips to stick the edges of the wound closer together. A tetanus vaccine may be given.

After a bite, a rabies vaccine may be given if it is not known whether the animal was healthy. Sometimes it is necessary to visit a doctor within 2-4 days to examine the bite site.

Prevention of animal bites

To avoid being bitten by an animal, you must:

  • Monitor children's interactions with animals. Teach children not to put their faces close to pets. Do not allow teasing or pulling the animal by the tail;
  • Do not call or play with sick or strange animals;
  • Do not run past the dogs;
  • If the dog approaches, you need to remain calm and give him the opportunity to sniff the person. You can't look the dog in the eye. You need to wait until the dog moves away, or slowly retreat;
  • Carefully choose pets, give preference to animals with a calm temperament;
  • Do not disturb an animal that is eating or sleeping;
  • You can not separate animals, especially large ones that are fighting;
  • No need to fight or provoke aggression in the dog.

Which animal do you think has the strongest bite? A lion? Hyena? Turtle? Or maybe someone smaller, like a piranha?
The answer may surprise you. There is a famous saying that says: “Big fish eat small fish” and if you look at how nature works, there is a lot of truth in this statement. It is especially true in the animal world, where most animals survive using a wide range of tactics and evolutionary characteristics.
As you may have guessed, bite strength is one of the many characteristics that help animals not only in their search for food, but also in self-defense. It is for this quality that today we will compile a list of the most “successful” representatives of the animal kingdom. From the beautiful Siberian tiger to the fearsome polar bear, I present to you the 25 most powerful bites in the animal kingdom. 25. Killer whale, PSI: 19000 ~ unknown

Until now, it has not been possible to accurately measure the strength of a killer whale's bite. However, based on incidents involving killer whales in captivity, it appears that their bite force may exceed 19,000 PSI. Since this is just a guess, at the moment the killer whale only gets 25th place.
24. Piranha, PSI: unknown


If we talk in the context of boxing, then the piranha would come out as the absolute champion in its weight. The force of her bite exceeds her body weight by 30 times, which is simply unheard of in the animal world. However, the exact strength of her bite has never been measured.
23. Leopard, PSI: 300-310


The leopard is one of the five big cats"genus panther and lives in many parts of the world, such as parts of sub-Saharan Africa, Western Asia, the Middle East, South and Southeast Asia, and even Siberia. Known for its athleticism and speed, the bite of the leopard is definitely something to avoid.
22. Tiger shark, PSI: 325


This marine animal is arguably one of the most deadly predators in the ocean and definitely looks very intimidating. However, her bite force is only 325.
21. Hyena dog, PSI: 340


The wild dog is endemic to sub-Saharan Africa and is considered the largest member of its genus in Africa. Don't let her appearance fool you, she can compete with cougars in terms of bite power.
20. Puma, PSI: 350


The cougar is considered the largest wild land mammal in the Western Hemisphere and one of the fastest animals. They do not have the strongest bite, however, they have muscular jaws and long fangs that are adapted to bite into meat, tendons and muscles.
19. Wolf, PSI: 406


The wolf is one of the most famous and well-studied animals. They also have some of the most paradoxical relationships with humans. The wolf is an excellent hunter, they usually hunt in packs to take down animals that are much larger than them. The wolf boasts an impressive bite force of 406 PSI.
18. Mastiff, PSI: 556


The Mastiff has the strongest bite among domesticated dogs. Even a Rottweiler, Pit Bull or German Shepherd cannot be compared with him.
17. Great White Shark, PSI: 669


While sharks should generally have the strongest bite of any fish, this shark's bite is surprisingly weak. However, this may be due to the fact that sharks do not need a strong bite, as they do most of the damage with their teeth.
16. Lion, PSI: 691


It was sad to see the "king of beasts" in such a low place, but it is obvious that his bite is not his main advantage. However, lions have a fairly strong bite that has earned them a place on this list of the 25 most powerful bites.
15. Jaguar, PSI: 700


The jaguar is terrible not because of its powerful bite, but because of the way its teeth are designed: they can pierce the skull and are able to pierce the shell of a turtle. By comparison, jaguars have the strongest bite relative to body weight of any cat family.
14. Brown bear, PSI: 850


The modest brown bear lives in the forests and mountains of northern North America, Europe and Asia. It is the most widely distributed bear in the world, boasting an impressive bite force of up to 850 psi.
13. Kodiak, PSI: 930


Kodiak lives on the islands of the Kodiak archipelago in southwestern Alaska, from which he borrowed his name. This is the largest subspecies of the brown bear and one of the two largest representatives of the bear genus. The second is the polar bear.
12. Amur tiger, PSI: 950


Amur tigers have not only incredibly powerful jaws, but also very sharp teeth, with which they dig into the throats of their victims.
11. Cayman Tortoise, PSI: 1000


According to a bite force test by Dr. Brady Barr of National Geographic, the caiman tortoise has a bite force of approximately 1,000 PSI.
10. Bengal tiger, PSI: 1050


Bengal tigers are the largest representatives of the cat family and are famous for their strength and power. Despite their formidable reputation, most tigers shy away from humans, but the few that don't are responsible for many deaths in India, where they live.
9. Hyena, PSI: 1100


This not-so-cute and scary animal, which we learned about as a child watching The Lion King, has teeth that are specially adapted for eating rough food, as well as crushing and digesting large bones. Their milk is rich in calcium due to the huge amount of bones included in their diet.
8. Polar bear, PSI: 1235


Polar bears are among the strongest and most enduring mammals on the planet, and as such, they also have a very powerful bite. Their diet consists mainly of seals, which are by no means soft skin however, their teeth are also adapted to a vegetable diet.
7. Grizzly bear, PSI: 1250


The grizzly bear is a majestic and dominant symbol of wild and primordial strength. They are omnivorous and have very strong teeth. Their incisors are relatively large, as are their fangs. Unlike most other carnivores, their teeth are also adapted to a vegetable diet.
6. Blunt shark, PSI: 1250


Bullhead sharks have the strongest bite of any fish, but their strength is only half of their power, as they also have very sharp teeth.
5. Gorilla, PSI: 1300


The teeth of typical male gorillas are white and large, but not very sharp. However, they have a very strong neck and jaw muscles that make their bite very strong.
4. Hippo, PSI: 1821


Hippos may not look like they have a strong bite, but the truth is that these huge animals have very strong jaw muscles. Even though they are herbivores, their bite is considered to be the strongest among all mammals.
3. Mississippi alligator, PSI: 2125


The Mississippi alligator is a rare success story in breeding an endangered animal. This species has been saved from extinction. The Mississippi alligator is one of the most vicious and deadly predators in the world, with its bite ranking third on this list.
2. Nile crocodile, PSI: 5000


The Nile crocodile has a well-deserved reputation as one of the most vicious cannibals in all of Africa. It is difficult to give an exact number, but it is estimated that about 200 people die in the pasture of the Nile crocodile every year. He ranks second on this list.
1. Salted crocodile, PSI: 7700


To put it bluntly, the combed crocodile is the largest reptile that lives on our planet at the moment. It is also the largest land and coastal predator in the world. The length of males of this species can reach 6.7 meters, and weight 2000 kilograms. In addition, they have the strongest bite of any animal in the world.


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