Bite from a wild or domestic animal

Content provided by Healthwise

Bite from a wild or domestic animal

When bitten by an animal, most people want to know whether they need a rabies shot. Most wild and domestic animals are not infected with rabies. However, it is important to consider the possibility if you are bitten.

In the United States and Canada, the main wild animal carriers of rabies are skunks, raccoons, foxes, and bats. Dog bites are the most common cause of rabies in most other countries. Other countries may not have the same animal vaccination standards as the United States and Canada, so animal bites that occur in another country may carry a high risk of infection or rabies. In the United States, the risk of rabies from dogs is highest in the states that border Mexico.

Pet cats and dogs that have been vaccinated rarely have rabies. However, the risk of rabies increases in stray animals, which may not have been vaccinated.

If you can capture the animal without injuring anyone else, try to capture the animal for observation (quarantine) or lab analysis. If the animal is killed, its brain can be tested for the presence of the rabies virus. Healthy-appearing domestic animals need to be observed for 10 days to watch for the development of abnormal behavior. In some cases, the animal will be observed by a veterinarian. Family pets are often observed in their home setting.

Unprovoked attacks cause more concern than provoked attacks or bites that occur during play. Provoked bites may occur when an animal is disturbed while eating, sleeping, or caring for its young. Animals that are normally active at night (nocturnal) but come out during the day should be considered to be at high risk for carrying the rabies virus. Animals that look sick, act strangely, or foam at the mouth may carry the rabies virus.

Rabies is quite rare, but it is fatal if the vaccines to prevent it are not given. Vaccines given within 2 days of the bite provide or stimulate resistance to rabies and usually prevent rabies from developing. Do not wait to see whether you get sick after a bite before getting the vaccine. Once symptoms develop, the course of the disease cannot be stopped, even with treatment.

Local animal control and public health departments have more information about bites from wild or domestic animals.

Credits

Last updated:	June 10, 2008
Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS
Reviewed By:	William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine, H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer