Monday, October 1, 2007

How To Treat Cat Bites And Prevent Getting Bitten Again


All cat owners will know that there are times when the cat will nip at you. A cat bite can result in anywhere from a little gash to an open wound. For those who are cat owners or simply have infrequent contact with cats


Why Would a Cat Bite Someone?


Typically, cats bite for two reasons only. Firstly, you may have been playing too rough with your frisky feline, which causes your cat to respond with a chomp. Also, cats may bite if they are annoyed with something you did or if they are simply feeling annoyed. Cats love to have their own space and they may respond angrily if someone does not respect that.


How to Treat Cat Bites


You could treat cat bites by washing the cut with soap, applying antibacterial cream and pasting a plaster over the wound. The ensures that the wound is clean and the chances of a bacteria infection is eliminated.


What is the Cat Scratch Disease?


A bite or scratch from a cat may lead to a more serious disease known as the cat scratch disease. The cat scratch disease is a bacterial infection caused by a cat's bite or scratch. It can also be caused when a cat licks an open wound. The bacteria is transmitted to cats by fleas, which is in turn transmitted to people via the cat's saliva. Cat scratch disease in cats does not harm the cat itself but provides problems for the person bitten, scratched, or licked.


Symptoms of Cat Scratch Disease


The main symptom of cat scratch disease is the swelling of the lymph nodes. Other symptoms may include fever, loss of appetite, headache, fatigue or sore throat.


Treatment of Cat Scratch Disease


Practically all occurrences of cat scratch disease will go away on their own. Over-the-counter medication love Tylenol or ibuprofen could help relieve the pain in the lymph nodes. When in doubt, consult a doctor to seek treatment because some of the more severe cases of cat scratch disease may require prescription antibiotics to heal.


Prevention of Cat Scratch Disease


The simplest way to avoid getting cat scratch disease is by the prevention of cat bites and scratches. You should step back whenever a cat shows any of the following warning signs love hissing, meowing in an angry tone, moving their ears backwards or harmlessly swiping you. Also, always remember to wash your hands after you have touched a cat. Thirdly, if you are bitten or scratched by a cat, be sure to wash your wound right away.








Please visit Natalie's SkinDiseaseArchive.com for more free tips on how to deal with some common skin conditions and much more.

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