How to report an animal bite and what happens next

If an animal bites you, act fast: wash the wound right away, get medical care, and report the bite to the right local office so officials can assess rabies risk and help decide what happens next. In many places, the report starts a public health review of the animal, which may include a 10-day observation period for a dog, cat, or ferret, or rabies testing for some wild animals. (cdc.gov)

First, take care of the bite right away

Use this quick checklist after any bite or scratch that breaks the skin:

1. Move to a safe place and stop contact with the animal. If you can do it safely, note what the animal looks like and where it went. (dshs.texas.gov)
2. Wash the wound right away with soap and water. CDC says immediate, thorough cleansing of all wounds is an important part of rabies prevention. If available, a clinician may also use a virucidal rinse such as povidone-iodine. (cdc.gov)
3. Get medical care as soon as possible. CDC says people bitten by a dog or cat should call a healthcare provider right away because bites can cause serious infection as well as rabies concerns. (cdc.gov)
4. Get urgent or emergency care now if the bleeding will not stop, you cannot move the area, the bite is over a joint, muscle or bone is showing, or the bite is on the head or neck. (cdc.gov)

Even if the wound looks small, do not shrug it off. CDC notes that most rabies exposures need medical attention quickly, and wildlife bites and scratches can spread germs even when the wound does not seem deep or serious. (cdc.gov)

Who to report the bite to

In most places, the best first calls are local animal control, the county or city health department, or the local rabies control authority. If you are not sure who that is, use search your city, county or ZIP or the site’s Animal problem: who to call tool to find the right office for your area. (phila.gov)

If the animal is a loose dog or cat, your local animal control or animal services office is often the practical first contact. This guide may also help: Who to call about a stray or loose dog. (admin.publichealth.lacounty.gov)

If the animal is wild, the right agency may be different. Many places involve animal control for capture and public health for rabies review, while state wildlife agencies may handle wildlife law and injured wild animals. For help sorting that out, see Animal control vs. the state wildlife agency: who handles what. (phila.gov)

Medical providers may also have reporting duties. Philadelphia, for example, says medical professionals must report animal bites to the health department, and Los Angeles County says anyone with knowledge of a reportable bite can report it. (phila.gov)

What information to gather before you call

Officials can help faster if you have basic facts ready. Philadelphia’s public health guidance asks for details such as the animal description, who owns it if it is a pet, where it lives, how the bite happened, whether neighbors have seen it before, which way it went, and how it behaved. (phila.gov)

Try to gather:

• The date, time, and place of the bite
• The type of animal and what it looked like
• Whether it was a pet, stray, or wild animal
• The owner’s name, address, and phone number if it was a pet
• Whether the animal has a current rabies vaccine tag or record
• How the bite or other contact happened
• Where the animal is now, if known
• How the animal acted before and after the bite

Do not put yourself at risk to collect this information. If the animal is gone, injured, or acting strangely, report what you know and let local officials handle the next step. (phila.gov)

What usually happens after you report

After a bite report, the main question is whether the animal could have exposed you to rabies. Local officials may try to locate the animal, confirm ownership, review vaccine history, and decide whether the animal should be observed or tested. Los Angeles County says the current location of the biting animal is one of the most important parts of the report for this reason. (admin.publichealth.lacounty.gov)

For a healthy dog, cat, or ferret that bit a person, public health guidance commonly uses a 10-day observation period. CDC says a healthy dog, cat, or ferret suspected of rabies exposure should be confined and observed for 10 days post-exposure in coordination with public health authorities. Texas DSHS and Philadelphia both explain that if the dog, cat, or domestic ferret is healthy and alive 10 days after the bite, it was not infectious with rabies at the time of the bite. (cdc.gov)

That observation period does not always mean the animal is taken away. Los Angeles County says many owned biting animals complete quarantine in their own home if they can be kept securely on site, while animals already impounded usually stay at a shelter. (admin.publichealth.lacounty.gov)

If the animal gets sick, shows signs of rabies, or dies during the observation period, that changes the plan. CDC says illness during the 10 days should be reported to the local health department right away, and Texas says an animal that shows signs of rabies or dies during observation must be tested. (cdc.gov)

A bite report also does not automatically mean the animal will be labeled dangerous. Los Angeles County says a bite report is about rabies risk review, and a separate dangerous animal process may apply in some places. Local rules vary a lot, so confirm the details with the relevant official office where appropriate. (admin.publichealth.lacounty.gov)

When rabies shots may be recommended

Rabies is preventable after an exposure, but once symptoms begin it is nearly always fatal. That is why rabies concerns are treated seriously, even when a bite seems minor at first. (cdc.gov)

Public health officials and clinicians look at the animal, the kind of contact, and whether the animal can be found. CDC says higher-risk situations include direct contact with bats when a bite or scratch cannot be ruled out, exposure to animals such as bats, raccoons, skunks, and foxes, severe exposures like multiple bites or head and neck bites, and exposures involving a young child. (cdc.gov)

If rabies post-exposure prophylaxis is needed for someone who has never been vaccinated, CDC says it includes wound washing, one dose of human rabies immune globulin at the first visit, and rabies vaccine on days 0, 3, 7, and 14. People with immune disorders need a fifth dose on day 28. For people who were previously vaccinated, CDC says PEP uses vaccine on days 0 and 3 and does not include immune globulin. (cdc.gov)

Doctors may also look at other infection risks. CDC says dog and cat bites can cause Capnocytophaga and other infections, and people with weakened immune systems, cancer, diabetes, HIV, no spleen, or alcohol use disorders can have a higher risk of severe illness. (cdc.gov)

Bats and wildlife bites need special attention

Wildlife exposures are often handled differently from dog and cat bites. CDC says rabies in the United States is mostly found in wild animals like bats, raccoons, skunks, and foxes. (cdc.gov)

Bats deserve extra caution. Philadelphia says you should report an exposure if a bat was in the room with a child, a sleeping or unconscious person, an intoxicated person, or a person with mental or physical disability, because bat bites can be so small they go unnoticed. Los Angeles County also warns that bat bites may be tiny and easy to miss. (phila.gov)

Wild animals usually are not managed the same way as a family pet with a known owner. Los Angeles County says high-rabies-risk wild mammals such as bats, skunks, foxes, raccoons, and coyotes are tested rather than quarantined. If you are dealing with a wild animal in your home or yard, Found injured or baby wildlife? What to do can help, and state-by-state pages can help you find the right agency. (admin.publichealth.lacounty.gov)

Rules can vary by state, county, and city

The big steps are similar almost everywhere: clean the wound, get medical care, report the bite, and cooperate with the rabies review. But the exact reporting rules, who must report, and which agency takes the lead can vary by state and even by town. (admin.publichealth.lacounty.gov)

For example, Los Angeles County says anyone with knowledge of a reportable bite can report it, while Texas law requires a person who knows of an animal bite or scratch capable of transmitting rabies to report it to the local rabies control authority. Philadelphia says medical professionals must report animal bites to the health department. (admin.publichealth.lacounty.gov)

That is why local contact information matters so much. If you do not know where to start, use search your city, county or ZIP to find your local listing, then call and ask exactly how bite reports are handled where you live. (phila.gov)

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to report a bite if it barely broke the skin?

Yes. Even a small bite or scratch can matter, especially if the animal was wild, acting strangely, or cannot be found. Public health guidance also treats some saliva exposures to eyes, nose, mouth, or open wounds as potentially important. (phila.gov)

What if the animal ran away?

Report the bite as soon as you can. Officials may try to locate the animal for observation or testing. If the animal cannot be found and the exposure is considered risky, your clinician and public health team may recommend rabies treatment without waiting. (cdc.gov)

Does a vaccinated dog still have to be observed after biting someone?

Often, yes. CDC says even animals with a history of rabies vaccination should be observed for 10 days after they bite or scratch a person, because rare vaccine failures can happen. (cdc.gov)

What about tetanus?

A healthcare provider may check your tetanus status when treating a bite. CDC says you should seek medical attention after a wild animal bite or scratch, especially if it has been more than 5 years since your last tetanus shot. (cdc.gov)