How To Treat A Cat Bite On Hand
Introduction
Cat bites on hands are a painful and serious medical condition. In some cases, they can even be deadly. Therefore, it’s important to know how to treat them if you or someone you love is bitten by a cat. Here’s what you need to know about treating this serious injury:
What is a cat bite?
A cat bite is when a cat bites a human.
A dog bite is when a dog bites a human.
A cat scratch or human scratch from cats can also cause infection, so if your pet scratches you, be sure to wash the area thoroughly with soap and water and apply an antibiotic cream (such as Neosporin) for best results.
Causes of cat bite
Cat bites are not uncommon. While some can be quite serious, most are minor. The majority of cat bites occur when the cat is scared or startled and reacts instinctively by biting. This can occur during grooming if you accidentally hurt it with your nails or teeth, when you pick up a kitten, while playing rough with an older cat, or even just petting it too close to its face.
The most common cause of bite injuries in cats is probably flea infestations; these tiny bloodsucking pests cause irritation that may lead to defensive reactions from your kitty — including biting — when they’re trying to get at them under its skin. They can also cause other problems like allergies and anemia as well as transmit diseases such as tapeworms or toxoplasmosis (a parasitic disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii). Cats who aren’t vaccinated against feline distemper virus may also react defensively if they feel threatened by unfamiliar people approaching them too quickly without saying hello first!
Signs and symptoms of cat bite on hand
- Pain
- Swelling
- Redness
- Bruising
- Bleeding (may be mild to severe)
- Fever, chills, and/or flu-like symptoms (such as fatigue and headache)
- Itching or pain around the bite wound that may persist for several days to weeks. This may be caused by an allergic reaction to bacteria in the cat’s saliva. In some cases it can lead to skin infection if not treated properly with antibiotics from a doctor who specializes in infectious diseases.
- Malaise (general feeling of being unwell). Also called “feeling off” or “not right” without having any specific symptoms such as fever or nausea occurring at the same time as feeling tired all day long every day since being biten by your cat!
Treatment for cat bite on hand
If your cat bites the hand of a person, it is important to wash the wound with soap and water. This will help remove any bacteria that may have entered the wound during the bite. It is also advisable to apply ice onto the area for about 20 minutes every hour for up to three hours, which can help reduce swelling.
If you are going to apply an antibiotic ointment, make sure that you do so within 12 hours from when it happened. If there is a lot of swelling and pain after 24 hours, seek medical attention immediately as this may be an indication of infection or other complications like nerve damage in some cases. Take ibuprofen or acetaminophen if there is still pain after 48 hours but only if your doctor says that it’s okay for you to do so.* Once all symptoms disappear within 2 weeks after being bitten by a cat on hand (or if they never happen at all), then apply Vitamin K cream every day until healed completely.*
Takeaway:
Cat bites can be painful and can lead to infection, so if you are bitten by a cat, seek medical attention. Even if you don’t require treatment after the initial bite, it’s important to monitor your wound for signs of infection. If you experience swelling or redness around the bite site in addition to pain and tenderness within 24 hours of the bite, seek medical attention.
If you have small children who are prone to getting into trouble with pets and their sharp teeth, it might be worth considering keeping them away from certain animals altogether until they’re old enough to know better than to put their fingers anywhere near an animal that could potentially bite.
Conclusion
Cat bites are quite common and can be caused by a number of different factors. The best way to avoid getting bitten is to be aware of your surroundings when you’re around cats, as well as observing how they behave with other animals or people. If you are bitten by one, treat it immediately with ice and antibiotics before seeking medical attention if necessary.