About 250,000 dog bites occur each year in the UK. Cat bites are
less common. About 7 in 10 bites are caused by the owner's own
pet or an animal known to them. Boys get bitten more than girls
and the under-5s are mostly involved. This leaflet gives a guide
as to what you should do following a bite. But, the take home
message is that all but the most minor bites should probably be
assessed and treated by a doctor or nurse - in particular, bites
to hands. Clean the wound You should clean the wound no matter
how small the cut to the skin. There are many bacteria (germs)
in animal mouths. Cleaning will reduce the chance of infection.
If the wound is small, you can clean it yourself. Just use
ordinary tap water. (There is concern that antiseptics may
damage skin tissue and delay healing.) If the wound is bleeding
heavily, use a clean pad, or preferably a sterile dressing, to
apply pressure until you can get medical treatment. Wounds that
are large, deep, punctured or dirty are best cleaned and
assessed by a nurse