Does a cat bite require special medication?
Asked by
bummer (
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)
April 12th, 2010
So I was being playful and scratching his chin and ears, then Lucky really took a big bite out of the back of my hand!
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17 Answers
Sometimes. If your lymph nodes enlarge, call your doctor.
have you had your tetanus shots? a cat bite might give you rabies if infected? most bites are harmless… unless the cat happens to be a tiger or something
Cats have a lot of potentially harmful bacteria in their mouths. You need to wash with warm soapy water and apply a good topical antiseptic right away. If the bite area gets red, swollen or remains sore you need to see a doctor.
Like @talljasperman said you probably should get a tetnis shot if you have not had one in a while.
It can be quite dangerous if it gets infected. Cat bites are puncture wounds and can go quite deep.
I got bitten a few years ago and did a little Internet research on it and decided on rather safe than sorry so i went to the Dr promptly
Cats have some really weird types of bacteria and the time to get it treated is before it has time to develop into a really bad infection which could also end up with needing surgery to drain it. Deep puncture wounds close up fast thus trapping the infection inside.
Go get some antiobiotics now before this gets out of control.
Cat bites… and most animal bites have things that are foreign to the human body. I would very closely watch it for the things WestRiverrat mentioned and if any of them show up get medical attention fast.
You do want to check when you had your last tetanus shot.
You will have to wear an Elizabethan collar so you don’t mess with your stiches.:)
If it gets infected,I would see a doctor :)
Yes, You should get medical help immediately if the cat broke the skin and there is blood. Are you current on your tetanus? Cats have bacteria in their saliva that you probably will need antibiotics.
I was bitten pretty bad some years ago and was in the hospital for 2½ days. Part of his tooth chipped off in my hand, they missed it on the x-rays.
(and Watch out for cat scratch fever! Also consult your doctor if you begin to experience sudden bursts of purring and/or you start chasing mice!)
Meow! get better!
BTW. To answer your question more completely, I forgot to mention that, yes, it does require a special type of medication. The ordinary types of antibiotic used like Amoxicillin aren’t going to cut it for the specific types of bacteria found in cats’ mouths.
So if anyone has some left over from your last respiratory infection or whatever, don’t bother.
Augmentin is the antibiotic of choice and it isn’t cheap. But then, neither is the surgery required to drain an infected puncture wound.
Puncture wounds are extremely difficult to cleanse thoroughly because they go so deep. If you don’t immediately begin squeezing out as much blood as possible (which few of us have the presence of mind or pain tolerance to do) all those nasties are hiding out there.
Just go to the Dr. or Emergency room and get it treated properly.
But don’t just take my word for it. Put cat bite infections into Google and read for yourself. You may also see some lovely post surgery photos from those who waited till it got out of hand.
Just get the Augmentin, take it faithfully and stop worrying about it. Take action now, avoid surgery later.
I got bitten in the evening. By the time I got into the office next day, it was already red, swollen, and hot to the touch. That was less than 12 hrs. later. I hate to think of what could have happened had I waited several days.
As Nike says: just do it ! Get to a Dr. asap.
A woman I know was bitten on her ankle by her cat and did not go to the doctor. Her ankle swelled up and became infected. Then it turned into a mess.
just go.
@Buttonstc While I was in the hospital, they gave me an IV antibiotic, and sent me home with a prescription of antibiotics to continue with.
Yeah, I’m not surprised by that at all. They really wanted to get the jump on the infection cuz they know how quickly virulent these types of puncture infections can be.
yes, you do. I am in the veterinary field, and it is very important to get them treated. They have a lot of bacteria in their mouths, and the puncture wound gets under the skin and can be very bad. Cat scratches can even give you some problems as well. Definetely get it treated, washed out well, and they will probably put you on antibiotics. Better safe than sorry!
YES!!! My ex got bitten and she got germs between the tendon and the sheath that protects it. They gave her antibiotics but it couldn’t get to where the infection started and she ended up having emergency surgery in the middle of the night to save her hand. Please see a doctor!
All very sage advice, i’d only add that you’ve been bitten by the devil’s disciple.I would check your scalp for the three sixes mark of the beast.Beware the pussy, it’s not always what it seems.
yes it is very possible :) A friend of mine had a pick line put in from a cat bite so she could get antibiotics that way. I got sick from a deep cat scratch….not fun. The way I see it, I would rather go to the doctor and tell them I am fine than risk getting really sick and almost losing a limb.
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