Bites, Animal and Human
Basics
Description
Animal bite rates vary by species: dogs (60–90%), cats (5–20%), rodents (2–3%), humans (2–3%), and (rarely) other animals, including snakes.
Epidemiology
All ages, but children > adults
Incidence
- 3 to 6 million animal bites per year in the United States; account for 1% of all injury-related ED visits
- 1–2% will require hospital admission, and 20 to 35 victims die from dog bite complications, annually.
Etiology and Pathophysiology
- Dog bites are more common than cat bites; most dog bites are from a known domestic pet; ~90% of cat bites are provoked.
- Human bite wounds are typically incurred by striking another in the mouth with a clenched fist; human bites also occur incidentally (e.g., paronychia, thumb-sucking, or bites to the face, breasts, or genital areas).
- Animal bites can cause tears, punctures, scratches, avulsions, or crush injuries.
- Contamination by oral flora leads to infection.
Risk Factors
- Clenched-fist human bites are frequently associated with the use of alcohol or drugs.
- Patients presenting >8 hours following the bite are at greater risk for infection.
General Prevention
- Instruct about animal hazards.
- Educate pet owners.
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Citation
Domino, Frank J., et al., editors. "Bites, Animal and Human." 5-Minute Clinical Consult, 33rd ed., Wolters Kluwer, 2025. Medicine Central, im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/1688505/all/Bites_Animal_and_Human.
Bites, Animal and Human. In: Domino FJF, Baldor RAR, Golding JJ, et al, eds. 5-Minute Clinical Consult. Wolters Kluwer; 2025. https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/1688505/all/Bites_Animal_and_Human. Accessed December 1, 2024.
Bites, Animal and Human. (2025). In Domino, F. J., Baldor, R. A., Golding, J., & Stephens, M. B. (Eds.), 5-Minute Clinical Consult (33rd ed.). Wolters Kluwer. https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/1688505/all/Bites_Animal_and_Human
Bites, Animal and Human [Internet]. In: Domino FJF, Baldor RAR, Golding JJ, Stephens MBM, editors. 5-Minute Clinical Consult. Wolters Kluwer; 2025. [cited 2024 December 01]. Available from: https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/1688505/all/Bites_Animal_and_Human.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
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