What to do if a cat has bitten

There is hardly a person in the world who has never been bitten cat. An animal can attack us with malice, can grab onto during the game or just warn a bite about something, for example, about hunger. Are the consequences of a cat bite so harmless? About danger cat teeth and will be discussed in our article.

What are cat bites fraught with

To begin with, we will understand what a cat bite is dangerous for a person. For of this we consider a number of diseases that are transmitted to us from our mustachioed-tailed pets:

• Rabies is perhaps the most dangerous ailment that an unvaccinated cat can “reward” its owner or an outsider person. As a result of the spread of the virus, the head is affected. brain, nervous and motor systems of an animal or human. Virus rabies is found in cat saliva, so if teeth animal pierced human skin will need immediately see a doctor. For the purrs themselves, rabies is deadly infection, from which, alas, no medications will help. A person bitten by a rabid cat will need an introduction rabies vaccines, even before it appears fever, the site of the bite becomes inflamed, appetite worsens, urge to vomit, lethargy, or, conversely, inflated emotional state. If no treatment is provided in time, a person will die from respiratory arrest or heart failure in terrible agony. Recognize a rabid street cat or a sick person a pet can be by such signs: breathing through the mouth, running saliva, suspicious behavior (excessive affection or aggression), hoarse or too long meow. Important to remember, that a rabid animal is capable of rushing suddenly;
• Tetanus is a bacterial disease that can get infected through a cat bite. Nervous as a result of infection system, skeletal and muscle tissue, which leads to strong spasms in a person or animal. It is impossible to say that bites pets are the main source of infection. More often bacteria get into human blood when injured o rusty nails, with scratches, abrasions. However, you can pick up tetanus and after a cat bite. How to recognize a cat suffering from tetanus? She may have spasms of the masticatory muscles, periodic contraction of other muscles, lack of coordination when walking, pain during urination. The good news is that tetanus in cats rare enough, although 100% eliminate the probability infection is impossible. A person has signs of tetanus after feline bites are: fever, headaches, severe swelling in the site of injury, inflammation of the lymph nodes, the appearance of seizures, sensation muscle tension. As a treatment for tetanus, usually use anti-tetanus vaccines and antibiotics;
• Chlamydia – This ailment is an infection that able to convey to a person both a domestic and a street cat. Chlamydia is dangerous for the eye purr, respiratory and genitourinary system, heart, motor apparatus. Externally cat infected chlamydia, it does not matter: from her nose and eyes stands out clear liquid or pus, animal sniffles, sneezes, refuses from food. If chlamydia goes to a person, that person will surely conjunctivitis will develop, outflows from the nose will begin, jump up temperature, weakness will appear, but not too serious consequences will be. But the pussy often die from such an infection, in a particular kittens, pregnant cats or old individuals with low immunity;
• Salmonellosis is a bacterial infection that is dangerous and for animals, and for their owners. This ailment affects the gastrointestinal tract, vascular and nervous systems, causes general intoxication It’s interesting to recognize a cat suffering from salmonellosis, sometimes difficult. Some animals, being carriers of salmonella, show no signs of infection. But if immunity cat is reduced, then you can notice the following symptoms: diarrhea, high fever, abdominal pain, refusal to eat. Similar symptoms with salmonellosis is also observed in a person who was bitten by a cat before blood
• Pasteurellosis is an infectious disease that sometimes people pick up through the saliva of infected animals during a bite. The respiratory organs, joints, and the brain are at risk from pasteurellosis. Often against the background of pasteurellosis secondary infections occur (for example, streptococcosis). In cats that are sick with pasteurellosis, there are pneumonia, problems with the musculoskeletal system (arthritis, osteomyelitis) and the urinary system (pyelonephritis), the brain (meningitis, abscesses). People usually have a disease occurs in the skin form when cats form at the site of the bite purulent vesicles, swelling, swelling, and in some cases blood poisoning develops. If the arm is swollen and reddened after bite a cat it is important to see a specialist as soon as possible conducting therapeutic measures, including the use of antibiotics.
• Staphylococcosis is a bacterial disease that also can go to people from pets. Man suffering staphylococcosis, may encounter such unpleasant consequences of the disease, like skin suppuration, dermatitis, eczema, infections of soft tissues, bones and joints, often staphylococci contribute to the development of pneumonia. A cat with staphylococcus can recognize by appearance, because her coat and skin are not in the best condition. On the body of the animal there are multiple bald patches on the skin visible pustules, boils;
• Streptococcosis – a bacterial infection that affects respiratory and digestive organs of humans and cats. In humans, this the disease causes fever, sore throat, plaque in areas of the pharynx, aching in the bones, pain in the ears, rash on the body. Often streptococci contribute to the development of tonsillitis, pharyngitis, scarlet fever, tonsillitis, otitis media, bronchitis, pneumonia and others ailments. A cat suffering from streptococcosis can be calculated by characteristic symptoms of the disease: cough, shortness of breath, temperature, refusal of food, ulcerations on the skin.

It is worth noting that all of these diseases are more common in homeless animals, however, and domestic animals are not safe from them cat. A number of bacteria can be brought into the house by the owner on the sole. street shoes, on clothes, personal items (bags, bags, etc.).

What measures should be taken after a cat bite

What to do if an adult or child is bitten by a cat? Act stand alone if the wound is small, no strong inflammation, swelling, or pain. So, consider what to treat a cat bite at home:

1. Rinse with plenty of running cool or slightly warm water. You can use household or other antibacterial soap;
2. Treat the wound after a cat bite with hydrogen peroxide or medical antiseptic solution;
3. Grease the edges of the wound with iodine, fucorcin or brilliant green, after which bandage the bite site;
4. If the finger is swollen after a cat bite (i.e. when a single bite, and the tumor area is small), you can use antimicrobial gel “Levomekol”, which copes well with inflammation. To treat a wound after a cat bite, you can also “Heparinova” or “Tetracycline” ointments;
5. Ointments such as ointments can reduce swelling, reduce pain “Indovasin” or “Troxevasin NEO”;
6. If a cat has bitten before blood, before using antiseptic it is reasonable to press the wound lightly so that the body with blood harmful bacteria or other microorganisms have left.

When you can’t do without the help of a doctor

The measures listed above can help if you dig into a healthy body. animal. But in such situations, you should rather run to the emergency room, so that the doctor tells you what to do if the cat has bitten:

1. If the temperature rises above 37 degrees;
2. If the leg, arm, fingers (or other place) is noticeably swollen bite);
3. If bleeding from a wound does not stop;
4. If inflammation has begun that cannot be dealt with independently;
5. If the animal has damaged tendons, ligaments or joints;
6. If your health condition suddenly stumbles (vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, pain, etc.);
7. If the health of the bitten cat is in doubt (see symptoms diseases that can migrate from animals to humans);
8. If not a domestic cat attacked, but a stranger, regardless of her condition and appearance.

If the consequences of an injury are severe than treating a cat bite at home conditions can only be determined by a specialist. Means from the first-aid kit like peroxide or decongestant ointments cannot help if the attack was made by a sick cat. Unfortunately, many argue something like this: “Nonsense, just a swollen finger after a cat bite.” Another option: “Pobolit and stop.” Such carelessness can cost too much, especially if the animal produced the bite with rabies or tetanus.