Animal Bites First Aid: What to Do After a Dog, Cat or Wildlife Bite and When Rabies Shots Are Needed

Quick answer: wash any animal bite or scratch right away with soap and plenty of running water, control bleeding with direct pressure, cover it with a clean bandage and contact a health care provider the same day. Call 911 for heavy bleeding that will not stop, a deep bite to the face, neck, hands or genitals, or signs of shock. Report the bite to local animal control or the health department. Rabies is preventable with prompt treatment after an exposure, so any bite from a bat, raccoon, skunk, fox or unknown animal needs medical advice quickly. Any direct contact with a bat does too.

City life comes with plenty of animals. Neighbors walk dogs through the lobby, cats live in apartments and bodegas, and raccoons, bats and feral cats share parks, alleys and rooftops. Most encounters are harmless, but a bite can break the skin, carry bacteria deep into tissue and, in rare cases, expose someone to rabies.

This guide covers first aid for bites and scratches and explains how doctors and health departments decide whether rabies treatment is needed. It belongs to our apartment emergency kit and preparedness guide.

Sources: CDC, “About Rabies,” “Rabies: What to Do If You Are Exposed” and rabies post-exposure prophylaxis guidance; CDC, “Preventing Dog Bites”; CDC, “Tetanus: Vaccine Recommendations”; American Red Cross first aid guidance on bites and wounds; MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine), “Animal bites.” Checked November 2026. This article is general safety information, not medical advice. Call 911 in an emergency and contact a health care provider about any bite that breaks the skin.

Why Animal Bites Need Attention

Animal bites carry two main risks: infection and rabies. Animal mouths hold many bacteria, and teeth can push them deep into skin and tissue. MedlinePlus notes that bites can cause infection, and that bites to the hands, feet and face, and bites from cats, carry particular risk. Cat teeth are thin and sharp, so their puncture wounds can look small while reaching deep.

Rabies is a viral disease that affects the brain and nervous system. The CDC states that once symptoms begin, rabies is almost always fatal, but that it is preventable with prompt medical care after an exposure. That is why the response to a bite matters even when the wound looks minor.

First Aid Steps for a Bite or Scratch

These steps follow CDC and American Red Cross guidance.

1. Get away from the animal. Move to a safe place. Do not try to catch a wild or stray animal yourself.
2. Wash the wound right away. The CDC advises washing the wound thoroughly with soap and water as soon as possible. Rinse under running water for several minutes. This is one of the most effective steps for lowering the risk of infection and rabies.
3. Control bleeding. Apply firm, direct pressure with a clean cloth or gauze. For heavy bleeding, keep pressure on and call 911. Our Stop the Bleed guide covers serious bleeding.
4. Apply a clean bandage. Cover the wound with a sterile dressing.
5. Contact a health care provider. Any bite that breaks the skin deserves a call to a provider, an urgent care clinic or a nurse line the same day. Bites from wild or unknown animals need prompt medical advice.
6. Report the bite. Contact local animal control or your health department, as they direct, so they can follow up on the animal.
7. Gather information. Note where and when the bite happened and what the animal looked like. For a pet, get the owner’s name, phone number and the animal’s rabies vaccination record if possible.

When to call 911

Call 911 or go to an emergency department if:

• Bleeding is heavy or will not stop with pressure
• The bite is deep, gaping or shows muscle or bone
• The bite is on the face, neck, head, hands, feet or genitals and is more than a scratch
• The person shows signs of shock, such as pale, clammy skin and confusion
• There were multiple bites or an attack by more than one animal

Signs of Infection to Watch For

Even after cleaning and medical care, watch the bite for several days. MedlinePlus and the Red Cross list warning signs of infection:

• Redness that spreads around the wound
• Increasing swelling, warmth or pain
• Pus or fluid draining from the wound
• Red streaks spreading from the bite
• Fever or chills
• Swollen lymph nodes near the bite

Contact a health care provider right away if any of these appear. Bite infections can spread quickly, and a provider may prescribe antibiotics. Our guide to cuts and scrapes wound care covers changing dressings and keeping a wound clean.

Tetanus

Bites are puncture wounds, which can carry tetanus risk. The CDC recommends that adults get a tetanus booster every 10 years, and that a provider may recommend an earlier dose for a dirty or serious wound if it has been more than five years since the last one. If you do not know when you last had a tetanus shot, tell the provider.

When a Child Is Bitten

Children are bitten more often than adults, and their bites are more likely to be on the face, head and neck because of their height. Comfort the child, then follow the same steps: wash, control bleeding, cover and contact a provider. Any bite to a child’s face deserves medical evaluation, even if it looks small, because of the risk of scarring and infection.

Ask the child gently what happened. Young children may not mention a scratch from a cat or a brush with a bat, so check for marks if they were near an animal. Let the provider know the child’s vaccination history.

Rabies: Which Animals Matter Most

Not every animal bite carries the same rabies risk. In the United States, the CDC notes that most reported rabies cases occur in wildlife, mainly bats, raccoons, skunks and foxes. Bats are the leading cause of rabies deaths in people in the United States.

Animal	Rabies concern	What usually happens
Bat	High. Bat bites can be very small and go unnoticed.	Seek medical advice right away after any direct contact
Raccoon, skunk, fox, coyote	High in many areas	Seek medical care promptly; the health department guides testing
Stray or unknown dog, cat or ferret	Possible	Medical evaluation; health department tries to locate the animal
Known pet dog, cat or ferret	Lower if vaccinated, but still assessed	Animal is often confined and observed for 10 days
Squirrel, rat, mouse, hamster, rabbit	Rarely infected	The CDC says these rarely need rabies treatment, but call your provider or health department

Local patterns differ, so your health department is the best source for the risk where you live.

Bats in apartments

Bats sometimes get into apartments through open windows, attic spaces or gaps around air conditioners. The CDC advises seeking medical advice if you have had direct contact with a bat, or if a bat was in a room with someone who might not know whether they were bitten, such as a sleeping person, a young child or a person with a cognitive disability. If it is safe to do so, health officials may want the bat captured for testing rather than released. Contact animal control or the health department for help, and do not handle a bat with bare hands.

The 10-Day Observation Rule for Pets

When a dog, cat or ferret bites someone, the CDC explains that a healthy animal can be confined and observed for 10 days. If the animal stays healthy during that time, it could not have transmitted rabies at the time of the bite. Local health or animal control officials usually arrange the observation, sometimes at the owner’s home.

This rule is one reason reporting the bite and getting the owner’s information matters. If the animal can be observed, a person may be able to avoid rabies shots. If the animal cannot be found, a provider and the health department will decide whether treatment should begin.

Rabies Post-Exposure Treatment

When a provider or health department decides that a rabies exposure is possible, they will recommend post-exposure prophylaxis, often called PEP. The CDC describes PEP for people who have not been vaccinated against rabies before as:

• Thorough wound cleaning
• One dose of human rabies immune globulin, given as soon as possible after the exposure
• A series of four rabies vaccine doses over 14 days

People with weakened immune systems may need an extra dose. People who were vaccinated against rabies before need a shorter schedule. The vaccine is given in the arm, like a flu shot, not in the stomach as older treatments were.

PEP is a medical emergency in timing, but not in the sense of needing to be given within minutes. The CDC notes it should begin as soon as possible after the exposure. Do not wait to see whether symptoms develop.

Bites Between Neighbors and Pets in Buildings

In apartment buildings, bites often involve a neighbor’s dog in a hallway, elevator or dog run. A few steps keep things calm and practical:

• Get medical care first, then exchange information.
• Ask the owner for proof of the dog’s rabies vaccination.
• Report the bite to animal control or the health department as your local rules require.
• Let your building manager know if the bite happened in a common area.
• Take photos of the wound and the location, which can help with medical follow-up.

Preventing Dog Bites

The CDC offers simple advice for avoiding bites, and it is worth teaching to children in particular:

• Do not approach an unfamiliar dog, and always ask the owner before petting.
• Let a dog sniff you before you touch it, and avoid reaching over its head.
• Do not disturb a dog that is eating, sleeping, caring for puppies or chewing a toy.
• Do not run from a dog or scream. Stay still and avoid eye contact.
• If a dog knocks you over, curl into a ball and protect your face and neck with your hands.
• Never leave a young child alone with a dog, even a familiar one.

In tight spaces such as elevators and narrow hallways, giving a dog and its owner room to pass helps both of you.

Keeping Your Own Pets Protected

Keeping your dog, cat or ferret up to date on rabies vaccination protects your pet and your household. Most states and many cities require rabies vaccination for pets. Keep the vaccination certificate where you can find it, along with your other pet records, in case your pet bites someone or is bitten by a wild animal. If your pet is bitten by a wild animal, contact your veterinarian and local animal control promptly.

Supplies for Bites and Scratches

A small apartment first aid kit already covers most of what a bite needs:

• Mild soap and clean water, or saline for rinsing
• Sterile gauze pads and adhesive bandages
• Roller bandage and medical tape
• Disposable gloves
• Antibiotic ointment, if your provider recommends it
• A copy of your pets’ rabies certificates and your own vaccination records

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to see a doctor for a small dog bite?

If the bite broke the skin, contact a health care provider the same day. Small punctures can still become infected, and a provider can assess rabies and tetanus risk.

What if a cat scratched me but did not bite?

Wash the scratch well with soap and water and watch for infection. Ask a provider for advice if the cat was a stray or behaved strangely, or if the scratch becomes red or swollen.

I woke up with a bat in my bedroom. What should I do?

Contact a health care provider or your health department right away. The CDC advises medical evaluation when a bat was in a room with a sleeping person, because bat bites can go unnoticed.

How long do I have to start rabies shots?

Start as soon as possible after a possible exposure. Do not wait for symptoms.

Do squirrels and rats carry rabies?

The CDC says small rodents such as squirrels, rats and mice are rarely infected and rarely need rabies treatment, but call your provider or health department for advice.

The Bottom Line

Wash every bite or scratch right away with soap and running water, control bleeding, cover it and contact a health care provider the same day. Report the bite so a pet can be observed or a wild animal tested. Get medical advice quickly after any bat contact or any bite from a wild or unknown animal, because rabies is preventable when treatment starts promptly.