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Most animal bites are not serious, but you may need to get medical help if the bite is severe or there are signs of infection.
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.
There are some things you can do after being bitten by an animal or a person.
clean the skin around the wound with soap and warm water – you can also use antiseptic, but try not to get it in the wound
try to remove any objects like teeth, hair or dirt from the wound using running 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
You've been bitten and:
You can call 111 or get help from 111 online.
You've been bitten by an animal or person and:
Call 999 for an ambulance if you're unable to go to A&E.
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.
If you've been bitten by an animal or person, a doctor or nurse will check the wound.
They may:
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.
