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Dr. Chrysoula I. Liakou MD, PhD
- Treated online: Partly. A doctor can assess small bites and scratches by video; deep wounds and rabies vaccination need in-person care.
- First aid: wash the wound with soap and warm water straight away, let it bleed a little, then cover it with a clean dressing.
- Antibiotics: usually needed for cat bites that draw blood, and for deep, crushing or dirty dog bites, started within 24 hours; infection shows within 1 to 2 days with a cat bite and 1 to 3 days with a dog bite.
- Rabies: after a bite, a scratch or a lick on broken skin from an animal that could carry rabies, wash the wound and get medical help immediately, even if you have been vaccinated.
- Emergency: call 112 or go to an emergency department for a large or deep wound, or bleeding you cannot stop.
Do not book a video appointment for a large or deep wound, bleeding you cannot stop, or a body part that has been torn off: go to an emergency department or call 112. After a bite or scratch from an animal that could carry rabies, get medical help in person immediately, because the vaccine has to be given without delay.
Can an online doctor treat an animal bite?
Partly. A doctor by video can look at a small bite or scratch, check the risk of infection and tetanus, decide whether you need antibiotics, and prescribe them. Deep wounds need cleaning and closing in person, and a possible rabies exposure needs vaccination, which is given in person, so the doctor tells you where to go straight away.
How an online consultation helps after an animal bite
- Rabies risk assessed: Which animal, which country, and what kind of contact: the doctor decides whether you need rabies treatment and where to get it.
- The wound seen on camera: The doctor looks at how deep the bite is, where it is, and whether it shows signs of infection.
- Antibiotics when they help: Cat bites that draw blood and deep, crushing or dirty bites often need them; superficial scratches usually do not.
- Tetanus checked: If your last tetanus vaccination was more than 10 years ago, the doctor tells you where to get a booster.
What the doctor checks in an online animal bite consultation
The consultation follows a fixed order, and the emergency signs come first. The doctor asks about:
- Emergency signs: a large or deep wound, bleeding that will not stop, or a high temperature and feeling very unwell.
- The animal: what kind of animal, whether it was a pet, a stray or a wild animal, how it behaved, and in which country it happened.
- The wound: where it is, whether the skin was broken and blood drawn, and whether teeth, hair or dirt may be in it.
- Infection: heat, swelling, pain, fluid or an unpleasant smell from the wound, and a high temperature.
- Vaccinations and health: tetanus and rabies vaccinations, long-term conditions, and your medicines.
Before the call, wash the wound, and find good light so the doctor can see it.
Animal bite first aid
Start straight away:
- Wash the wound with soap and warm water. After a bite from an animal that could carry rabies, keep washing for at least a quarter of an hour.
- Gently squeeze the wound so it bleeds a little, unless it is already bleeding.
- If it is bleeding heavily, press a clean, dry cloth or dressing firmly onto it.
- Pat it dry and cover it with a clean dressing.
- Take paracetamol or ibuprofen for the pain and swelling.
If a body part has been torn off, wrap it in clean tissue, put it in a plastic bag, surround the bag with ice, and take it with you to the emergency department.
If the dog’s owner is there, ask for their name and contact details and for proof that the dog is vaccinated against rabies.
How do I know if a dog bite is serious?
A bite is serious if the wound is large or deep, keeps bleeding, or has torn off part of the body, and it needs a doctor if it is on a high-risk part of the body, shows signs of infection, or came from an animal that could carry rabies. A shallow graze from a vaccinated pet at home, cleaned straight away, usually heals without problems. Use this as a guide:
Swipe sideways to compare →
| What you notice | What it can mean | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| A large or deep wound, bleeding you cannot stop, or a body part torn off | Damage that needs cleaning, closing or surgery | Emergency department or call 112 now |
| A bite on the hand, foot, face, head or genitals, or over a joint | A higher risk of infection, and of damage to tendons, joints or bones | A doctor promptly, even if it looks small |
| A cat bite that broke the skin | A puncture wound: up to half of cat bites become infected | A doctor promptly, usually for antibiotics |
| Redness, heat, swelling, pus, an unpleasant smell or a high temperature | Infection | A doctor promptly; call 112 if you feel very unwell |
| A bite, scratch or lick on broken skin from an animal abroad, a stray, or any bat | A possible rabies exposure | Medical help in person immediately |
Rabies: what to do after a bite abroad
Rabies is caught from the bite or scratch of an infected animal, or from its saliva on broken skin or on the eyes, nose or mouth. Dogs are responsible for up to 99% of human cases worldwide, and bats and other mammals can also carry it. Once symptoms appear, rabies is almost always fatal, but treatment started promptly after an exposure is usually very effective. Symptoms usually appear 2 to 3 months after the bite, but can start anywhere from 1 week to 1 year later, and treatment only works before they do, so get help straight away. The rabies page covers the symptoms, the vaccine and the risk country by country.
- Wash the wound with soap and water for at least a quarter of an hour.
- Get medical help immediately, in the country where you are: do not wait until you get home, and do not wait for symptoms.
- Get help even if you have had the rabies vaccine before.
- Treatment is a course of rabies vaccine and, for some people, rabies immunoglobulin, given in person.
- If treatment is not reliably available where you are, you may need to travel to another city or country to get it.
For travellers, the risk is real but easy to underestimate: about 0.4% of travellers have a possible rabies exposure for each month they stay in a country where rabies is present, and most exposures happen in the first 2 weeks of a trip. Stray dogs and cats cause far more of them than wild animals. Bats have very small, sharp teeth that may leave no visible mark, so any direct contact with a bat counts as an exposure.
Rabies is found on every continent except Antarctica, and the risk is highest in parts of Asia and Africa. Several European countries have declared themselves free of rabies, but bats can still carry it: in the UK, for example, rabies is found only in some bats. Before a trip, the country guides on the Travel Health Hub cover the vaccinations and health risks for each destination.
Rabies vaccination before travel
A rabies vaccine before travel is recommended for trips to areas where rabies is more common, especially if medical help may be hard to reach quickly, you will be in contact with animals, for example cycling or running outdoors, or you are staying for more than a month. Get advice about 8 weeks before you travel.
Cat bites, dog bites and other animals
The risk depends on the animal and the wound:
Swipe sideways to compare →
| Animal | Main risk | What usually helps |
|---|---|---|
| Cat | Small, deep puncture wounds that are hard to clean, with a high risk of infection | Antibiotics when the skin is broken and blood drawn |
| Dog | Torn, crushed or punctured skin; most superficial bites that did not draw blood do not need antibiotics | Cleaning, and antibiotics for deep, puncture, crush or dirty wounds |
| Stray or wild animal, or a bat, in a country where rabies is present | Rabies, as well as infection | Immediate wound washing and urgent rabies treatment |
| Monkey, such as the macaques of Gibraltar, North Africa and Asia | Infection, rabies where it is present, and rarely B virus from macaques | Immediate washing and an urgent medical assessment |
| Rat, mouse, hamster or other rodent | Infection; rabies almost never | Cleaning, and antibiotics if it becomes infected |
| Human | Infection, and rarely blood-borne viruses | Antibiotics when the skin is broken and blood drawn; blood tests may be offered |
How often do bites get infected?
Bite infections tend to show early. About 3% to 18% of dog bites become infected, typically around 24 hours after the bite. Up to half of cat bites become infected, typically within about 12 hours, because about 85% of them are deep puncture wounds. Human bites become infected in 10% to 50% of cases. Rarely, bacteria from dog and cat mouths cause a serious blood infection 1 to 14 days after a bite, especially in people with a weakened immune system. A scratch from a cat that carries fleas can also pass on cat scratch disease.
Which bites need antibiotics?
Antibiotics are used to prevent infection when the risk is high. UK guidance recommends them:
- after a cat bite or a human bite that has broken the skin and drawn blood
- after a dog bite that is deep, a puncture or crush wound, has caused significant damage or is visibly dirty, or that has reached a bone, joint, tendon or blood vessel
They may also be considered for a bite that has drawn blood on the hands, feet, face or genitals, on skin over a joint or cartilage, or in an area with poor circulation, and in someone whose health makes a wound infection more likely, such as people with diabetes or a weakened immune system. A bite that has not broken the skin does not need antibiotics. An infected bite needs antibiotics as treatment. If a bite is not starting to improve within 24 to 48 hours of starting antibiotics, or gets worse quickly, see a doctor again.
How to avoid dog bites, at home and abroad
Dogs bite when they are scared, startled, in pain, or guarding food, puppies or toys, and a wagging tail does not always mean a friendly dog. A stiff body, a fixed stare, a tucked tail, growling or snapping all mean leave it alone. To lower the risk:
- Ask the owner before you stroke a dog you do not know, and approach slowly without leaning over it.
- Do not reach over a fence, run past a dog, or disturb one that is eating, sleeping or caring for puppies.
- If a dog comes towards you, stand still, avoid eye contact and back away slowly. Do not turn and run.
- If a dog knocks you over, curl into a ball and protect your head, neck and face with your hands.
- Abroad, never stroke, feed or handle unfamiliar animals, including friendly-looking strays and monkeys, and keep food and shiny jewellery out of monkeys’ reach.
Which animal bite treatment might the doctor recommend?
Treatment depends on the animal, the wound and where it happened. This is the framework the doctors use, in line with NHS, NICE and WHO guidance.
Swipe sideways to compare →
| What you have | Likely first step | Suitable for online care? | When in-person care is needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| A scratch, or a bite that did not break the skin, from a pet at home | Cleaning and watching the wound | Yes | Not usually needed |
| A cat bite that broke the skin and drew blood | Antibiotics to prevent infection | Yes | If it becomes hot, swollen or painful despite antibiotics |
| A deep, crushing or dirty dog bite, or a bite on the hand or foot | Cleaning, antibiotics, and sometimes closing the wound | Partly | To clean and close the wound |
| A bite, scratch or lick on broken skin from an animal that could carry rabies | Urgent rabies treatment | Yes, to assess the risk | Vaccination, given in person without delay |
| A large or deep wound, or bleeding that will not stop | Emergency treatment | No | Go to an emergency department or call 112 |
Bitten and not sure what you need? A doctor can tell you in one consultation.
See available times →Treatment options for animal bites
What you can do yourself
- Clean the wound and cover it with a clean dressing, as above.
- Take paracetamol or ibuprofen for the pain and swelling.
- Keep the wound clean, and change the dressing if it gets wet or dirty.
- Check the wound every day for signs of infection.
Prescription treatment
A prescription is never issued without a consultation. If a bite is likely to become infected, or already is, the doctor can prescribe an antibiotic, chosen after checking your allergies and other medicines. Wound closure, tetanus boosters and rabies vaccines are given in person, and the doctor tells you where to go. If the doctor prescribes, use the prescription at a pharmacy near you.
What does not help
Waiting for symptoms after a possible rabies exposure: once rabies symptoms appear, treatment no longer works. Taping a deep bite shut yourself is not a good idea either: a doctor decides whether a bite should be closed or left open. Infected bites, and bites first seen more than 24 hours after they happened, are usually left open to heal.
Special situations
Bites on the hands, feet, face or head
These bites are more likely to cause problems, and they need a doctor’s assessment even when they look small.
Long-term conditions
Diabetes, a weakened immune system or a treatment that lowers immunity, having no working spleen, and advanced liver disease all make a serious wound infection more likely. With any of them, see a doctor about any bite that has broken the skin.
Tetanus
If you have not had a tetanus vaccination in the last 10 years, or are not sure, you may need a booster after a bite.
Bites on holiday
Never handle bats, at home or abroad. If you are bitten or scratched on holiday, follow the rabies steps above, and do not adopt a stray animal on a trip. Other holiday health problems are covered on the travel illnesses page.
Human bites
A human bite that breaks the skin needs medical advice, because it can become infected. Blood tests for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV may be offered.
Children
Mobi Doctor consultations are for adults aged 18 and over. A child who is unwell needs a paediatrician or a local doctor in person, and emergency signs in a child mean 112.
When an animal bite is treated online, and when you need in-person care
Treated online: small bites and scratches from pets, deciding whether antibiotics are needed, infected bites, and rabies risk advice before or after a trip.
In-person care: large or deep wounds, bleeding that will not stop, wounds that need closing, tetanus boosters, and rabies vaccines and immunoglobulin.
When to get in-person care
Call 112 or go to an emergency department now for:
- a large or deep wound
- bleeding you cannot stop
- a body part that has been torn off
Get medical advice the same day for:
- a bite or scratch from an animal that could carry rabies, which needs help immediately
- a bite that is hot or swollen, leaks fluid or smells unpleasant
- a high temperature, or feeling hot, cold or shivery, after a bite
- a bite on the hands, feet, face or head, or teeth, hair or dirt that may be in the wound
How Mobi Doctor works
- Book a time that suits you: daily 7am–11pm CEST. You can see a doctor over video, usually within 15 minutes. No subscription, and the exact price is shown before you pay.
- Speak to a licensed doctor about the bite: show the wound on camera, and say which animal bit you, in which country, and when you last had a tetanus vaccination.
- Leave with a plan: what to do, what to take and for how long, and which signs mean you should be seen in person. If the doctor prescribes, use the prescription at a pharmacy near you.
No sign-up needed
Not sure whether a bite is healing normally? Tick every symptom you have to see each condition page that mentions it. It finds the right page, not a diagnosis: a doctor gives you that on a video call. If you have an emergency sign listed on this page, call 112 instead.
Tap the body — an area or a point — to browse symptoms anywhere
Not sure this is the right page? Look up any symptom in the full symptom checker, or book and describe it to a doctor.
Frequently asked questions about animal bites
How do I know if a dog bite is serious?
A bite is serious if the wound is large or deep, the bleeding will not stop, or a body part has been torn off: go to an emergency department or call 112. See a doctor promptly for a bite on the hand, foot, face, head or genitals or over a joint, a cat bite that broke the skin, signs of infection, or a bite from a stray or an animal abroad that could carry rabies.
Do I need to worry after a dog bite?
Not usually, if it is a small bite from a vaccinated pet and you cleaned it straight away. Watch it for the next few days, because an infected dog bite typically shows signs around 24 hours later. Get help for redness, heat, swelling, pus, a smell or a high temperature, and immediately after any bite abroad or from an animal that could carry rabies.
What should I do immediately after a dog or cat bite?
Wash the bite wound with soap and warm water, gently squeeze it so it bleeds a little unless it is already bleeding, then pat it dry and cover it with a clean dressing. Go to an emergency department for a large or deep wound or bleeding you cannot stop.
Do I need antibiotics after a cat bite?
Usually, if the bite has broken the skin and drawn blood. Cat bites are small, deep puncture wounds that are hard to clean, and up to half become infected, often within about 12 hours. A doctor can assess the bite and prescribe antibiotics if they are needed.
Do I need antibiotics after a dog bite?
Not always. They are recommended for dog bites that are deep, puncture or crush wounds, visibly dirty, or that reach a bone, joint or tendon, and they may be considered for bites on the hands or feet that drew blood. A superficial bite that did not draw blood usually does not need them.
Why do animal bites get infected so easily?
Animal bites inject the bacteria of the animal’s mouth, such as Pasteurella from cats and dogs, deep into the tissue through narrow puncture wounds that close over, which is why cat bites become infected in up to half of cases and dog bites in about 1 in 5; hand bites are worst because the tendons and joints are close to the surface. Washing the animal bite well, leaving it uncovered where possible and early antibiotics prevent most infections.
What should I do if a dog bites me abroad?
Wash the bite with soap and water for at least a quarter of an hour, then get medical help immediately, in the country where you are. Do not wait until you get home or for symptoms, because rabies treatment must start promptly to work.
Can an animal scratch or lick give you rabies?
Yes. Rabies can spread through a scratch, and through an infected animal’s saliva on broken skin or on the eyes, nose or mouth. A lick on unbroken skin does not need rabies treatment.
Can rabies be treated after a bite?
No. Once symptoms of rabies appear, it is almost always fatal. It is preventable, though: washing the wound and starting rabies vaccination promptly after an exposure works very well, which is why a bite abroad needs medical help immediately, not when you get home.
Do I need rabies treatment if I have been vaccinated?
Yes. After a possible rabies exposure such as an animal bite you still need medical help, even if you had the rabies vaccine before your trip. Vaccinated people still need vaccine doses, but usually not rabies immunoglobulin.
How do I know if an animal bite is infected?
An infected bite becomes hot, swollen and more painful, may leak fluid or smell unpleasant, and you may get a high temperature or feel hot, cold or shivery. Infected bites need a doctor and usually antibiotics.
How long does an animal bite take to heal?
A simple animal bite that is cleaned well heals in about 7 to 10 days; a bite that becomes infected needs 5 to 7 days of antibiotics and heals over 2 to 3 weeks, and deep bites to the hand, or bites that damage tendons or joints, can take longer and may need surgery. Pain, swelling and redness that increase after the first day, pus, or fever mean the animal bite is infected and needs a review without delay.
Do I need a tetanus jab after an animal bite?
If you have not had a tetanus vaccination in the last 10 years, or are not sure, you may need a booster after an animal bite. A doctor can check this with you.
Can an online doctor treat an animal bite?
Partly. A doctor can assess small bites and scratches by video, decide whether antibiotics are needed and prescribe them, and assess your rabies risk. Deep wounds, wound closure, tetanus boosters and rabies vaccines need in-person care.
- Animal and human bites, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 27 October 2025.
- Rabies, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 3 August 2026.
- Rabies fact sheet, WHO, World Health Organization, 2026.
- Human and animal bites: antimicrobial prescribing (NG184), rationales, NICE, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, 2020.
- Bites (human, dog or cat): antibiotic prescribing guideline, version 2.2, HSE, Health Service Executive (Ireland), 2026.
- Zoonotic exposures: bites, scratches and other hazards, CDC Yellow Book, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2025.
- About Bartonella infection (cat scratch disease), CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2026.
- Preventing dog bites, American Veterinary Medical Association, accessed 15 October 2026.
This page is for information only and is not a substitute for a medical consultation. Guideline links are provided for transparency; treatment decisions are made with your doctor.
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