Dogs attack more than a million Americans annually and about half of these incidents involve children. All children should be taught to avoid strange dogs, and dog owners should properly restrain their pets at all times, keeping them on leashes when walked and muzzled if they have a propensity to bite. Unleashed dogs should be kept in a secure enclosure at other times. These measures not only protect people from bites but they also benefit pets by preventing them from becoming lost or hit by automobiles common fates for animals allowed to roam freely.
All animal bites require some level of treatment, depending on the nature and severity of the wound.
Animal and human mouths are home to many bacteria that can cause harm when they penetrate the skin. If the person has not had a tetanus shot in the past 5 years, consult a physician. If the person has circulatory problems or diabetes, a physician should also be consulted, even if the bite appears to be minor. The Southeast, Middle Atlantic and Northeast states report it at epidemic levels among raccoons, skunks, and bats. Less commonly, rabies may be carried by coyotes, foxes, and larger rodents such as ground hogs.