Bites and scratches. 10 useful tips

February 27, 2019

If you are the owner of a cat or a dog – but also otherwise, because these animals often meet, at friends' houses, on a leash, in the park… – it is good that you pay attention when they come into contact with children . Even the most docile, tolerant and disciplined pet, capable of enduring long sessions of play and abuse, can sometimes react by biting or scratching. When this happens, questions arise: How do you heal the wound? Should I go to the emergency room or call the pediatrician? Will a tetanus shot be needed, or maybe an antibiotic? And then, why did the animal behave like this? What should we have done to avoid the accident? Thanks to the advice of Dr. Valentina Bruson, veterinary surgeon, we have drawn up a handbook to prevent unpleasant events and be ready in case of bites and scratches. BEFORE 1 Never leave your child alone with your pet, whether it's yours or not.

2 Teach him how to pet the dog and cat: not having a complete perception of his own physical strength, the child runs the risk of hitting the animal, rather than petting it, scaring it and arousing its aggression. 3 Always leave an escape route for the animal. Explain to the child that you do not put your hands in the dog's bowl and do not take objects out of his mouth. 4 Even dogs and cats must be educated: we must know our four-legged friends well and their level of tolerance; never underestimate an aggressive dog, which often needs to be managed with the help of a behaviorist. 5 If the animal is unknown but accompanied, the parent asks the owner if it is possible to pet it, and he always does it first; only later can the child follow his example. 6 If he is a stray, he is petted – with all due caution and precautions – only if he is the one to approach. AFTER 7 In the event of a bite or scratch, wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water, remove any foreign materials and disinfect. Avoid occlusive dressings. 8 Check the wound in the following days: it should not swell or become infected. 9 If the injured part is extensive or is struggling to heal, contact the pediatrician or go to the emergency room: the need for an antibiotic and an anti-rabies vaccination will be assessed (the anti-tetanus vaccine is instead included among the vaccines provided by the National Health System). 10 Console the child, don't make him worry and avoid giving too much weight to what happened, so that he won't be afraid of animals in the future. Taken from Nascere Mamma | by Nora Cinaschi