Many of us have soft spots for animals, whether they’re domesticated, stray or straight feral. If you feel the urge to approach and pet a stray animal, which we’d advise against, the chances that you will get bitten are much higher than interacting with a domesticated pet.

Stray, feral animal bites can be dangerous, and our AFC Urgent Care Southcenter team highlights why below.

What Should I Do If a Stray Animal Bites Me?

In addition to doing basic first aid on the cut, which includes stopping the bleeding, cleaning the wound with soap and water, applying an antibiotic ointment and bandaging up the bite, you should visit our AFC center to see if you are at risk of the below-mentioned health complications.

There’s a really good chance whatever stray animal that bit you isn’t vaccinated against rabies and other potential diseases, so the risk of getting infected by the bite is high.

Possible Health Complications Caused By a Stray Animal Bite

• Bacterial infection. Many cats, although they don’t have symptoms, have the Pasteurella multocida bacteria in their mouth, which can cause wound infections.
• Tetanus. This has an even greater chance of becoming a problem if it has been more than five years since your last tetanus shot and the cat bite is very deep or is contaminated with dirt or debris.
• Rabies. Surprisingly, more reported rabies cases in the United States involve cats than dogs, although those cases are still much lower than the incidence of rabies in wild animals.

What Would the Doctor Do for an Animal Bite?

If a stray animal bit you, your doctor will likely give you a rabies vaccine as a safety precaution. Additionally, your doctor will likely clean the wound again, apply antibiotic ointment and prescribe an antibiotic to fight against potential infection.

Before you head to the doctor, which you should do within the first 24 hours after a stray animal bite, it’s important to watch for the signs of infection. We’ve listed them below.

Common Signs of Infection

• Localized redness around your wound
• Warmth around the bite area
• Red streaks leading away from the bite
• A fever
• Pus
• Swelling
• Pain

If you’ve been bitten by a stray animal, it’s nothing to take lightly. Don’t hesitate to visit our AFC Urgent Care Southcenter team today!