MANAGING BITE WOUNDS IN DOGS AND CATS - PART-I

Bite wounds in small animals can be life-threatening, especially if th e skull, cervical region, or thoracic or abdominal cavity is penetrate d. Emergency treatment for shock and associated injuries is often nece ssary. Dog bites generate a tremendous amount of force, causing lacera tions as well as: puncture, tear, avulsion, and crushing injuries. Alt hough superficial punctures and lacerations may seem minor, the:crushi ng-may damage deep tissues and internal organs. Pasteurella multocida is an important pathologic agent in both dog.and cat bite wounds, but but Staphylococcus and Streptococcus species are also often found. All bite wounds should be considered contaminated and may easily become i nfected if bacteria inoculated into a wound are allowed to proliferate .Gram's stain and culture and sensitivity testing of infected wounds a re helpful in guiding initial antibiotic therapy. Part 1 of two-part p resentation discusses the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and microbiol ogy of bite wounds in cats and dogs and reviews initial treatment, inc luding emergency stabilization and managing special injuries associate d with these wounds. Part II will discuss wound management and antibio tic therapy.