Bites and Injuries Inflicted by Wild and Domestic Animals

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By: Luanne Freer

A chapter of Wilderness Medicine, 5th Edition By Paul S. Auerbach, MD, MS

• Imprint: Mosby
• ISBN: 978-0-323-03228-5
• Copyright: 2007

Wild and domestic animal bites are distinct from other injuries suffered by humans. Tearing, cutting, and crushing injuries are sometimes combined with blunt trauma caused by falls. Few traumatic lacerations are as regularly contaminated with as broad a variety of pathogens as are animal bites. Domestic animal bites are common, and their incidence is rising.28,124,149 Wild animal attacks are often more spectacular, but in the developed world, injuries from domestic animals have a much greater health and economic impact. Humans are not a natural prey of any animal. Although some attacks are predatory, most are caused by fear of humans (real or perceived), territoriality, protective instinct, or accident.

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