Animal Bites & How to Prevent Them

Many animals can be encountered while walking down a city street or during a hike. These animals, whether domestic or wild, may attack or bite if they feel threatened or if they are ill. According to Louisiana State University, dog and cat bites can lead to several serious infections including pasteurellosis and staphylococcus. There are several ways anyone can avoid a potentially dangerous animal bite.

• 1

  Avoid touching, feeding or handling an animal that is unknown to you. According to Medline Plus, avoidance is one way to prevent an animal bite.

• 2

  Do not leave children alone with animals. This is true of animals that are strangers to the children or pets that belong to family members and friends. Many times a child can begin to play too roughly with an animal, which can cause the animal to bite out of stress or as a defense mechanism.

• 3

  Wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, hats and a pair of hiking boots when exploring nature. According to Medline Plus, this can help anyone prevent bites from animals in the wild, including snakes.

• 4

  Avoid running away from an unknown animal, such as a dog, or making loud noises. This could cause the animal to see you as a threat, which may result in an defensive bite.

• 5

  Watch for signs that the animal is in a defensive mode. These could include baring of teeth, raising of hair or a snake could begin to rattle its tail. If these signs are noticed, walk away from the animal slowly or stand completely still until the animal moves way from you.