Dog or cat bites...

Can a deep bite from an indoor cat actually lead to more serious complications? I'm asking because the bite is deep, and the wound is already looking swollen and painful.

You definitely need antibiotics. In Finland, they typically prescribe ciprofloxacin, and over here in the States, we have the same thing available. You really want to start them as soon as possible.
Apply some cold compresses to help get that swelling down.

And don't think for a second that it won't hurt.🙄

Larry Lewis2 said:You definitely need antibiotics. In Finland, they typically prescribe ciprofloxacin, and over here in the States, we have the same thing available. You really want to start them as soon as possible.
Apply some cold compresses to help get that swelling down.

And don't think for a second that it won't hurt.🙄

But what actually happens if I just skip the antibiotics?

http://www.healthatoz.com/healthatoz...infections.jsp

I mean, Google pretty much knows everything these days, doesn't it?

Definitely hit up a doctor first, and then they can decide if an antibiotic is actually necessary.

Sadly, there's no way I'm letting us start prescribing antibiotics on this forum.😉 There are plenty of reasons for that. (Allergic reactions can be seriously dangerous, plus you've got the whole issue of antibiotic misuse, etc.).

I’m already rushing to pick up some antibiotics; the swelling should hopefully settle down in two or three days. They actually sent me over to the epidemiological clinic at the local hospital to get everything checked out. And yeah, I had to switch my antibiotic because I just couldn't handle the first one they prescribed—those dosages they give you can be absolutely brutal.

They sent me in to get my tetanus and rabies shots—mostly because there was this stray cat hanging around the yard, and you never know if it might have bumped into other animals. But honestly? Since we were pretty much certain it wasn't an issue—the cat was basically out in the yard with us most of the time, so it was under control—I skipped the rabies one. And I don't regret it one bit. 😉

But man, that tetanus shot is non-negotiable!

Hey there,

So, I had a bit of a "close encounter" with a dog earlier. He nipped at my leg, though luckily it was just through my pants. You can see the marks on my skin, but the weird thing is he didn't actually bite through the fabric—I checked later and there isn't a single hole in my trousers. However, he did try to snap at my hand, and honestly, I'm not entirely sure what went down there. My jacket is totally fine, but I did find a small tear in my t-shirt. On my hand, I've got this tiny little scratch, maybe just a few millimeters long.

Here’s the kicker: the dog doesn't seem to belong to anyone I know. It looks like he's just wandering around the neighborhood, and people have been feeding him; there were even some food bowls lying around nearby. To be fair, the whole incident happened when I approached him and tossed him a little snack, but I guess he wasn't too thrilled about me encroaching on his territory. Outside of that specific little feeding spot, he seemed pretty timid.

Do I need to head to the doctor now? If so, where should I go? Is there any actual reason to be worried?

Yes—it’s probably best to go, just to be safe.

Alright, thanks! So, where am I supposed to put this?

Honestly, your best bet is to just call 911 right now and see what they suggest regarding an ER visit. If they tell you it's serious and you need to get seen immediately, you should probably head to the nearest major hospital—maybe something like Mount Sinai or whatever big medical center is closest to where you live—unless there's a local Community Health Center with an urgent care wing open late.

You really should have washed the bite area thoroughly right away with some heavy-duty soap, maybe something strong like Dial or even just a good antiseptic wash, scrubbing it for at least fifteen seconds. That’s actually how vets handle it when they're dealing with little scratches from panicked animals, so it's a pretty standard move.

I've got a good feeling everything is going to turn out just fine.

Right after that dog bit me, I headed straight to the Emergency Room, where they took care of me immediately and got my tetanus shot sorted out...

It's probably better to just get vaccinated preventatively

A few months back, I had a similar run-in—a dog bit me right through my clothes, and honestly, I have no clue if it was vaccinated or not. It was just one of those freak accidents where it tried to go for my dog, and I (being the 🙄 genius I am) stepped in with my knee to block it and ended up taking the hit myself.
I just washed the scratch with soap and water and slapped some iodine on it. That’s basically what they’d tell you to do at a Community Health Center, too—they usually just suggest getting a tetanus shot if you haven't had one in the last five years. I hadn't, but I didn't bother getting a booster since I'm pregnant, and everything turned out fine, I guess.
Anyway, why don't you just call an animal rescue group to come pick the dog up?
The folks over at the ASPCA are great and would probably take him in. It’s better if he's actually looked after.

Thanks so much to everyone for all the advice! I just swung by the local Community Health Center to check in with the doctor on duty. She told me there's no need to worry about a tetanus shot since my last one was within the last five years. As for the rabies concern, she said she can't say for certain based on what she knows right now, but she still recommended I head over to the specialized clinic near Rockefeller tomorrow just to get a professional opinion from the experts there.

Anyway, once I finally got back home, I made sure to clean those scratches up with some rubbing alcohol. I didn't have any of those fancy medicated soaps on hand, and honestly, by the time I was looking for something, most of the shops were already closed for the night.

You don't really need some fancy specialty soap—plain old soap should be enough to rinse out any saliva from the wound, I guess.

Hey there...
So, here's the deal. My brother got bit by some dog at the park earlier. It hit him right on the lower leg and now the whole area is turning blue. On top of that, his lymph nodes in the groin are all swollen up. He went to see his doctor, and she basically told him he needs to head straight to an infectious disease clinic.
Is this actually as bad as it sounds? Like, how dangerous are we talking here?
Thanks

To whom it may concern,

When dealing with a dog bite—and even more so with a cat bite—there's a real risk of infection from various aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. The swelling in the lymph nodes is a clear indicator of that. If the infectious disease specialist decides it's necessary, antibiotic treatment will be administered, and everything should stabilize.

Additionally, an epidemiologist needs to be consulted to review the circumstances of the incident. They will determine if the animal belongs to a known owner who can be placed under veterinary observation, which ultimately dictates whether rabies vaccinations are required based on those specific details.

Best regards. 🙂

So, my little girl got bitten by a dog today—right on her left upper arm. Just one of those days where everything goes sideways, I guess.😢
We ended up at the ER—yeah, just my luck—and they had to give me a shot of Klavocin. Now we’ve got an appointment with the epidemiologist tomorrow morning. Just one of those days, I guess.
Honestly, what worries me most is whether this whole thing is going to leave her with some lasting emotional scars—you know, stuff that sticks with you long after the dust settles. I’m already sitting here, low-key dreading the moment she actually has to face those dogs... it's just a lot to process.😢

Got bit when I was 4—ended up needing stitches and rocking a scar on my stomach until I was 10.
I barely remember the whole thing, honestly, but I still absolutely love dogs.😍