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
• System(s) affected: potentially any

Pediatric Considerations
Young children are more likely to sustain bites and have bites that include the face, upper extremity, or trunk.

Epidemiology

• All ages, but children > adults
• Dog bites, male > female; cat bites, female > male

• 3 to 6 million animal bites per year in the United States (1)
• 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

• There are over 60 million pet dogs and 45 million pet cats in the United States.
• Dog bites are far more common than cat bites. Most dog bites are from a domestic pet known to the victim.
• Most (~90%) 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 due to nail biting, thumb sucking, or nonmalicious 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.
• Dog bites are typically crush-type wounds. Cat bites are more often puncture-type wounds.

Risk Factors

• Older, male dogs are more likely to bite.
• 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 of infection.

General Prevention

• Instruct children and adults about animal hazards.
• Enforce animal control laws.
• Educate pet owners.