Presenting problem: Bite Wounds

Key Points

• Triage the bite wound patient for life threatening internal injuries such as coelomic penetration.
• Stabilize the patient before initiating wound management. Provide hemostasis, supplemental oxygen, and supplemental heat as needed.
• The superficial appearance of a bite wound can be misleading. Deeper structures often suffer from hematoma formation, necrosis, and bacterial invasion.
• Bite wound infections are often polymicrobial, involving a broad mixture of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria.
• The danger of infection caused by Pasteurella spp. is high in victims of cat bite wounds.
• Reduce the risk of bite wounds in reptiles by feeding pre-killed prey and removing uneaten prey items within 15-30 minutes.
• A broad spectrum beta-lactamase inhibiting antibiotic like amoxicillin-clavulanate is a commonly used to treat bite wounds in patients with simple guts such as ferrets and parrots.
• The risk of dysbiosis makes beta-lactams a dangerous choice for hindgut fermenters, like rabbits and many rodents, therefore potentiated sulfa drugs or fluroquinolones are popular choices in these species.
• Good bandaging practice protects the wound from contamination and supports the wound while it heals.