Human and animal bites can cause puncture wounds, cuts, bruising and tissue damage. Even when a bite looks relatively small, bacteria from the mouth can enter broken skin and cause infection.
Bites from dogs, cats and people are among the more common injuries, but other mammals can also bite. The correct response depends on how deep the wound is, where it is located, whether bleeding is controlled and whether there is a risk of infection, tetanus or rabies.
This guide explains how to clean and dress a bite, when to contact NHS 111, when to go to A&E and what to do if a bite causes severe bleeding or removes part of a finger, ear or another body part.
Teeth can push bacteria deep into tissue, particularly when they create narrow puncture wounds.
A bite may cause:
The seriousness of the injury cannot always be judged by the amount of blood visible on the surface.
If an animal or human bite has broken the skin:
NHS guidance also advises gently encouraging a small bite wound to bleed slightly after cleaning, unless it is already bleeding significantly.
| Situation | What to do | Medical help |
|---|---|---|
| Minor bite that breaks the skin | Wash thoroughly with soap and warm water, dry and cover with a clean dressing. | Monitor closely and seek advice if infection or other risk factors are present. |
| Heavy bleeding | Apply firm direct pressure with a clean dressing or cloth. | Go to A&E if bleeding will not stop. |
| Large or deep wound | Control bleeding and cover the wound. | Go to A&E. |
| Bite to hand, foot, face or head | Clean and cover the wound. | Contact NHS 111 for urgent advice. |
| Human bite | Wash and dress the wound. | Seek urgent medical advice because additional infection risks need assessment. |
| Possible rabies exposure | Wash the wound thoroughly. | Seek urgent medical advice. |
Wash the wound thoroughly using soap and warm water.
This is important because animal mouths contain bacteria that can enter damaged tissue.
After cleaning:
Do not scrub aggressively into a deep wound.
If a bite is bleeding heavily, press a dry sterile dressing or clean cloth firmly against the wound.
Keep steady pressure on the wound rather than repeatedly lifting the dressing to check it.
If the bleeding is severe and will not stop, the casualty should go to A&E.
If bleeding is life-threatening, call 999.
See our First Aid for Major Bleeding guide for detailed bleeding-control guidance.
NHS guidance recommends urgent advice from NHS 111 in several circumstances.
Contact NHS 111 if:
According to NHS guidance, go to A&E if:
Do not drive yourself to A&E if your condition makes this unsafe. Ask someone else to take you or call 999 for an ambulance where necessary.
Call 999 or 112 for immediately life-threatening injuries.
This can include:
Continue controlling severe bleeding while waiting for the ambulance.
Bite wounds can become infected.
Warning signs can include:
Seek urgent medical advice if these symptoms develop.
Hands contain many tendons, joints, nerves and small spaces where infection can spread.
A small puncture wound may therefore cause more damage than its appearance suggests.
NHS guidance specifically advises contacting NHS 111 for bites affecting the hand.
The same urgent advice applies to bites involving the feet, face or head.
Dog bites can range from small puncture wounds to severe tearing and crush injuries.
After a dog bite:
Large dog bites can damage muscle, tendons, nerves and other structures beneath the skin.
Cat bites often create narrow puncture wounds because cats have sharp teeth.
Although the external wound can appear small, bacteria may have been carried deeper into the tissue.
Clean the bite thoroughly and monitor it closely.
Seek medical advice if the bite affects a hand, foot, face or head, if it becomes painful or swollen, or if any other NHS urgent-care criteria apply.
A human bite that breaks the skin requires medical assessment.
NHS guidance advises contacting NHS 111 if you have been bitten by another person.
Human bites can transmit bacteria and may also create a small risk of blood-borne infections.
St John Ambulance guidance notes possible risks including hepatitis and HIV and advises medical help after a human bite.
Do not try to judge infection risk yourself based only on how clean the wound appears.
A person's knuckles can be cut by another person's teeth during a punch.
This may technically be a human bite injury even though the injured person was not directly bitten.
These wounds can involve the joints and tendons of the hand and carry an infection risk.
If skin has been broken by contact with another person's teeth, seek medical advice.
Tetanus is a serious infection caused by bacteria that can enter through wounds.
A healthcare professional may assess whether a tetanus booster or other treatment is needed after a bite.
NHS guidance advises contacting NHS 111 after a bite if you have not had a tetanus vaccination within the last 10 years.
Do not delay cleaning the wound while trying to find your vaccination records.
Rabies is rare in the UK, but it remains an important consideration after some animal bites, particularly those occurring abroad.
If there is any possibility that an animal could have rabies:
Preventive treatment can be highly effective when given appropriately after exposure.
Bites received abroad may require more urgent assessment because rabies risk varies considerably between countries.
Seek medical advice promptly after being bitten or scratched by animals such as:
Do not wait until returning to the UK before seeking medical help if rabies exposure is possible.
See our Travel First Aid Kit Checklist for wider travel first aid planning.
Teeth, hair, dirt or other material may sometimes remain in a bite wound.
Do not dig deeply into the wound trying to remove embedded material.
Clean the wound gently and seek medical advice.
NHS guidance specifically advises contacting NHS 111 if you think objects such as teeth, hair or dirt may still be inside the wound.
Do not pull out a deeply embedded object if removing it could worsen bleeding or tissue damage.
Control bleeding around the object where possible and obtain medical help.
A deeply embedded tooth fragment may require professional removal and cleaning of the wound.
A severe bite can occasionally tear off a body part such as part of a finger or ear.
NHS guidance advises:
Do not place the detached body part directly onto ice.
Control the casualty's bleeding and go to A&E immediately. Call 999 if the injury is severe or the bleeding cannot be controlled.
Soap and warm water are the main recommended first-aid cleaning measures for an animal or human bite.
Do not pour harsh household disinfectants, bleach or cleaning chemicals into the wound.
After cleaning, pat the wound dry and cover it with a clean dressing.
After cleaning and drying the bite, NHS and St John Ambulance guidance recommends covering it with a clean or sterile dressing.
A dressing helps protect the wound from further contamination while it is being monitored or until medical assessment is obtained.
NHS guidance says paracetamol or ibuprofen can be used to help with pain and swelling where suitable for the casualty.
Children under 16 should not be given aspirin.
Follow the medicine instructions and seek advice from a pharmacist if you are unsure which pain relief is appropriate.
Children are commonly bitten by dogs and other animals.
If a child's skin has been broken:
Facial and head bites require urgent advice from NHS 111.
Serious facial injuries, deep wounds or uncontrolled bleeding require A&E.
Some people may be at greater risk from wound infection or complications because of their health or medication.
For example, a healthcare professional may need to assess someone who:
If you are uncertain about the person's individual risk, seek medical advice.
Animal bites and insect bites are different injuries and should not be managed in exactly the same way.
| Animal or human bite | Insect bite or sting |
|---|---|
| Usually caused by teeth breaking the skin. | Usually caused by an insect biting or injecting venom through a sting. |
| Can introduce bacteria deep into tissue. | Often causes local itching, pain or swelling. |
| May require tetanus, antibiotic or rabies assessment. | Main serious concern may be a severe allergic reaction. |
| Human bites carry additional infection considerations. | Stings can sometimes trigger anaphylaxis. |
For insect-related injuries, see our First Aid for Insect Bites & Stings guide.
A severe animal attack can produce significant blood loss.
If bleeding is life-threatening:
Do not spend time extensively cleaning a wound while catastrophic bleeding is occurring. Control the immediate life-threatening bleeding first.
Severe blood loss or major trauma can lead to medical shock.
Possible signs include:
Call 999, control serious bleeding, keep the casualty warm and monitor them.
See our First Aid for Shock guide for further information.
Some occupations have greater exposure to animal bites, including:
A workplace risk assessment should consider foreseeable animal-contact risks, suitable first aid provision and how workers will obtain medical assistance.
Useful general first aid supplies can include:
Access to soap and clean running water is especially important because thorough washing is one of the key first aid steps after a bite.
You can view our range of first aid kits for workplace, home, travel and general use.
Common mistakes include:
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Bite breaks the skin | Wash thoroughly with soap and warm water, dry and cover with a clean dressing. |
| Heavy bleeding | Apply firm direct pressure with a dressing or clean cloth. |
| Large or deep wound | Go to A&E. |
| Bleeding will not stop | Go to A&E or call 999 if emergency ambulance help is required. |
| Hand, foot, face or head bite | Contact NHS 111 for urgent advice. |
| Human bite | Contact NHS 111 for medical assessment. |
| Signs of infection | Seek urgent medical advice. |
| Possible rabies exposure | Wash thoroughly and obtain urgent medical advice. |
| Body part torn off | Wrap it in clean tissue, place it in a plastic bag, put ice around the bag and take it to hospital. |
The NHS provides current guidance on animal and human bites, including wound cleaning, signs of infection, tetanus and rabies assessment and when to contact NHS 111 or attend A&E.
You can read the NHS guidance on animal and human bites and the St John Ambulance first aid guidance.
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