Land Animal Bite

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Medical Author:

Scott H Plantz, MD, FAAEM

Medical Editor:

John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP

John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP

John P. Cunha, DO, is a U.S. board-certified Emergency Medicine Physician. Dr. Cunha's educational background includes a BS in Biology from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, and a DO from the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences in Kansas City, MO. He completed residency training in Emergency Medicine at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, New Jersey.

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• Land Animal Bite Overview
• Land Animal Bite Symptoms
• Land Animal Bite Treatment
• When to Seek Medical Care
• Synonyms and Keywords
• Author and Editor

A person attacked by a land animal should attempt to identify the type of animal, the time of the injury, and the nature of the attack.

• Animal bites can occur on any dive or wilderness trip. They may also occur in a backyard with domesticated pets or wild animals.
• Unprovoked animal bites are particularly dangerous. The possibility of a cat, dog, or wild animal having rabies is high, especially in less-developed countries.
• Bites from land animals often lead to severe infections. Puncture wounds are very dangerous because they inject bacteria deep into the tissues.
• Bites to the hand, wrist, foot, or joint are very dangerous and require immediate medical attention.
• Infection is a major concern with bites because a local wound infection may develop in as little as 24 hours.

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