Management of cat and dog bites

An estimated 1 to 2 million Americans are bitten by cats and dogs each year. Most victims are children who are bitten by dogs. Dog and cat bite wounds may appear trivial, but if they are not managed appropriately, they can become infected and may result in functional impairment. Cat bite wounds on the hand have the greatest risk of infection. Pasteurella multocida, isolated in over half of all cat bite wounds and in 20 to 30 percent of dog bite wounds, can cause serious infection with severe complications. Amoxicillin-clavulanate is recommended for the outpatient treatment of dog and cat bite wounds. Tetanus immunization status and the risk of rabies infection should be routinely addressed in bite wound management.