Aftercare

• Keep dressing in place for 24 hours.
• Clean wound with soap and water.
• Elevate and apply ice to affected extremity to prevent swelling and reduce pain.
• Monitor for signs of infection: fever, redness, increased pain, swelling, discharge.
• Report incident to Medical Health Officer so observation/examination of animal for rabies can be done as appropriate.
• Inform patient not to shoot animal so assessment of animal can occur.
• Do not pet or feed strange or wild animals.

Follow-up

• Most infections present 48-72 hours after injury so have patient follow-up for wound reassessment within this timeframe.
• Return for reassessment if signs or symptoms of infection are present.

Patient Education Handout – Animal Bites