Within 2 hours of the bite I had been examined, treated, and started on oral antibiotics. For the rest of the day the heat and pain in and around the bite wounds grew. By evening I started to feel unwell but I attributed this to the anti-biotics. By bed time I was running a low- grade fever and the spreading redness and heat on my arm indicated that the bite wounds had become infected. We headed to the ER. Now this is not my first cat bite rodeo, or even my first infected cat bite rodeo.
I have always taken these wounds in stride as part of my occupation. This incident was different and more severe than I personally have ever experienced, but it not an uncommon outcome among cat bite victims.
I am going to tell you why. This bacteria is also present in the mouths of other animals that bite, but in cats the potential for this pathogen to cause serious infection is amplified by feline dental structure when a cat bite occurs. When a cat bites you they basically inject this aggressive pathogen and others deep into your tissue.
This plunges the bacteria right into a warm, dark, low oxygen environment which is optimal for the development of infection. From there, an aggressive cellulitis skin infection can take root and spread quickly. Additional complications can include Osteomyelitis bone infection , Sepsis, a life threatening systemic response to infection , chronic local infection, disfigurement etc. Treatment for infected cat bites often requires hospitalization, treatment with IV antibiotics, surgery, and in rare cases amputations.
Cats, like all other mammals can be infected with and carry Rabies. This neurologic virus if left untreated is almost always fatal.
If you think the above described infection sounds bad, contracting Rabies would be astronomically worse. Rabies is a public health hazard and if you are bitten by an unvaccinated mammal it is taken very seriously. The cat that bit me was not vaccinated. I have been vaccinated for Rabies for over 20 years and have always had good titers when checked every two years to make sure the vaccine was still protective in my system. Regardless of this, while in the ER I received rabies post exposure treatment.
Fun times. Stay away from stray or feral cats. Wear thick protective gloves when handling an injured or stray cat. Domestic animals, like dogs and cats, are responsible for the majority of animal bites. Read more about types of bites, symptoms, and treatments. Animal bites on your hand and fingers are common, especially from pets like dogs and cats.
Though these injuries are typically not life-threatening…. Rabies is caused by a virus and can be transmitted by bites and scratches from an infected animal, often a dog. Learn more about rabies in humans here. You can contract cat scratch fever from cats infected with Bartonella henselae bacteria.
Learn about symptoms in cats and humans, and get facts on…. You love your cat. And your cat loves you in its own fashion. But beware—your cat can make you sick. If you have swelling in just one eye or have found a spider in the area where you were bit, it's safe to assume a spider or similar bug is to blame.
Most spider bites are harmless, and symptoms will go away after a few days. Seek immediate medical care if you suspect the following. Learn how to safely and quickly remove a leech, as well as how to recognize a leech and when to seek immediate medical treatment. Termites feed off wood and live in dark environments. A noticeable bug bite is more likely to be from a different insect, but here's what you can look….
If you share a bed with your pets, you may find black specks called "flea dirt. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Are Cat Bites Dangerous? Diseases that can be carried by cats. How do you know if a cat bite is infected? Cat bite infection complications. How long after a cat bite does infection set in? Call your doctor as soon as possible to help cut the risk for infection. They can coil around you alluringly — but they also can scratch, and bite. If a cat scratches or bites you, you need to act quickly to prevent infections.
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