Human and animal bites that break the skin can become infected or transmit illnesses such as rabies.
The <a target="_blank" href="[BASEDOMAIN]/healthinfo/BounceLink.aspx?Shortcut=acep">American College of Emergency Physicians</a> offers the following advice for dealing with bites: 
<ul>
 <li>If a bite breaks the skin, wash the area thoroughly with soap and water, put on an antibiotic cream, and cover the wound with a bandage. </li>
 <li>If you haven't had a tetanus shot in the past 10 years, you should get one within 72 hours of being bitten. </li>
 <li>For deep puncture wounds, or skin that is badly torn and bleeding, apply pressure to stop the bleeding and seek medical attention right away. </li>
 <li>See a doctor right away if you have been bitten and develop a fever or notice signs of infection, such as swelling, redness, pain, a bad smell or fluid draining from the wound. </li>
 <li>If you are bitten by an animal that is acting strangely or attacks unprovoked, seek medical attention right away&mdash;especially if the animal is a bat, skunk, raccoon or fox. Strange behavior and unprovoked attacks could be signs of rabies. Rabies is rare in dogs, cats, rodents and animals that eat only plants. </li>
</ul>
Reviewed 8/18/2023

Is it an emergency? Bites

A quick guide.