When the Dog Bites
Children and pets cannot always coexist peacefully under one roof. After all, pets are animals, and you can never predict their behavior with complete certainty. Older pets can become jealous of the arrival of a new infant, and they can vie for attention from the parents. Injuries caused by pets are a common pediatric concern.
Dogs
A dog may be man's best friend, but sometimes even the best of friends can turn on you. Children are more likely to be the victim of dog attacks, not only because of their small size but also because they tend not to respect the personal space of pets. Frequently, dogs bite young children because they view them as competitors for food, especially when children play with their food bowls.
Essential
A common misconception is that human bites are a lot more dangerous than animal bites because the bacteria living in the human mouth are believed to be more vicious and virulent. Recent studies have shown that this is not the case. The chance of a wound infection is about equal for human bites and animal bites.
If the skin is broken from a dog bite, immediately clean the area well with soap and water to wash away any germs. If there is bleeding, the bite should be evaluated by a doctor. This is especially important if the bite occurred on the hand or the face. A doctor will often prescribe antibiotics for deep bite wounds to prevent infections and will check the date of the last tetanus vaccination.
If the bite is superficial and minor, all you need to do is apply topical antibiotics to the bite and allow the wound to heal on its own. If you see any of the signs of infection mentioned on page 150, seek medical attention immediately.
Cats
Cat bites are somewhat less common than dog bites, but when they occur, they are more dangerous. Cat bites are more likely to become infected for many reasons. For one, cats are carnivores. They have razor-sharp teeth that are more likely going to puncture and cut deeper than the omnivorous dentition of dogs. Furthermore, cats often harbor a specific type of bacteria in their mouths. This bacterium can cause an infection. Called cat-scratch disease, this can become a chronic infection that causes persistent fever, swollen glands, and headaches. This type of bacteria is more often found in the mouth of kittens than adult cats.
Rabies
Fortunately, rabies is a relatively rare condition in human beings. Otherwise, this deadly infection would be responsible for killing thousands of the people who are bitten by animals each year. In the United States, rabies is almost always caused by wild animals instead of domesticated ones. However, it is still prudent to check the rabies status of a dog if your child is bitten. Check with animal control if the status cannot be ascertained from the pet owner.
If your child is bitten by any type of wild animal, bring him to the emergency room immediately. Thorough cleaning of the bite wound is by far the most important step in preventing rabies. If the exact animal responsible for the biting can be identified and captured, it will be quarantined and evaluated for signs of rabies.
Fact
Contrary to what most people believe, most cases of rabies in the United States are not contracted from dogs. The animals that most commonly carry the rabies germ in this country are bats, raccoons, skunks, and coyotes. Even though squirrels do carry the virus, transmission from these small rodents is rare because they tend to die of the disease before they have a chance to bite anyone.
Turtles and Other Reptiles
Turtles can make good pets because they are relatively low maintenance and do not require a large living space to be content. Other reptiles, including snakes, iguanas, and lizards, can also be kept in small containers.
However, these reptiles can carry the salmonella bacteria. Hand-washing after handling these pets is a must to prevent contracting salmonellosis. If your child gets bitten by one of these animals, you should have him checked by the pediatrician if the skin is broken and there is bleeding. Even a small amount of bleeding can be a cause for concern. Once the skin barrier is breached, the salmonella bacteria can enter into the bloodstream. Salmonella is responsible for causing bloody diarrhea and a severe blood infection that can spread to the brain.
