An injury that results when flesh is caught between the teeth of an animal that leads to:

• Superficial skin breaks with or without bleeding.
• Puncture wounds.
• Major lacerations.

Pets are a common cause of bites, with dog bites occurring most frequently. Cat bites are considered more serious due to the higher incidence of infections associated with them. Stray and wild animals such as bats and monkeys also inflict thousands of bites every year. Bites from wild animals are especially dangerous because of the threat of rabies.

The doctor observes the bite for signs of infection - increasing skin redness, swelling and pain. He also examines the wound for possible nerve or tendon damage or bone injury. He cleans the wound with an antiseptic solution and removes any damaged tissues. He may prescribe an antibiotic to prevent infection and give the patient an injection to protect against tetanus. In all cases of animal bites a physician should be consulted to see whether in the circumstances of the case one should receive prophylaxis against rabies.