Animal Bites and Rabies

An animal bite is a wound caused by the teeth of an animal. The teeth puncture, tear, scratch, bruise, or crush tissue. The injury can damage skin, nerves, bone, muscle, blood vessels, or joints.

Although any animal may bite, dogs and, to a lesser extent, cats account for most bites in the United States. Dogs account for the majority of bites as a result of protecting their owners and their territory. Cats do not defend territory; they bite mainly when humans restrain them for various reasons or attempt to intervene in a catfight.

Domestic animals, such as horses, cows, and pigs, bite infrequently, but their size and strength are such that serious wounds may result. Wild animal bites are rare.

Bites from non-immunized domestic animals and wild animals carry the risk of rabies. Rabies is more common in raccoons, skunks, bats and foxes than in cats and dogs. Rabbits, squirrels and other rodents rarely carry rabies.