Animal and human bites | Health Information from Radcliffe Pharmacy

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Animal and human bites

This page is about human bites and bites from animals, such as cats and dogs, that have broken the skin. There's a separate page about snake bites.

What to do after animal or human bites

There are some things you can do after being bitten by an animal or a person.

Do

clean the wound with soap and warm water
gently squeeze the wound so it bleeds slightly (unless it's already bleeding) – this can help reduce the risk of infection
press a dry dressing or clean cloth firmly onto the wound to stop the bleeding if it's bleeding heavily
after cleaning the wound, gently pat it dry and cover it with a clean dressing
take paracetamol or ibuprofen to help ease any pain and swelling – children under 16 should not take aspirin

Get help from NHS 111 if:

You've been bitten and:

you think there may be objects like teeth, hair or dirt in the wound
the bite is hot or swollen (it may also be painful, red or darker than the surrounding skin, which may be harder to see on black or brown skin)
you have a high temperature, or feel hot, cold or shivery
fluid is leaking from the bite
the bite smells unpleasant
you were bitten on your hands, feet, face or head
you were bitten by a person
you have not had a tetanus vaccine in the last 10 years

You can call 111 or get help from 111 online.

Go to A&E if:

You've been bitten by an animal or person and:

the wound is large or deep
you cannot stop the bleeding

If a body part, such as part of a finger or ear has been torn off, wrap it in clean tissue and put it in a plastic bag. Put some ice around the bag and take it with you to hospital.

Find your nearest A&E

Do not drive to A&E. Ask someone to drive you or call 999 and ask for an ambulance.

Bring any medicines you take with you.

Treatments for animal and human bites

If you've been bitten by an animal or person, a doctor or nurse will check the wound.

They may:

clean the bite thoroughly – if the wound is very dirty, some of the affected area may need to be removed to reduce the risk of infection
close the wound with stitches, sticky strips or special glue, or leave it open to heal
give you antibiotics to stop the wound becoming infected
check your risk of getting tetanus and rabies – you'll be given treatment to prevent these serious infections if needed

If you've been bitten by a person, you may also be offered a blood test to check for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV.

Last Reviewed
18 November 2025