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Springtime brings all of us, including our pets, outdoors. This increased
outdoor activity means that your pet runs an increased risk of getting into a
fight with another animal, especially if your pet ventures outdoors
unsupervised. Most veterinarians agree that the majority of bite wound victims
are young intact male dogs of any breed, small breed dogs in general, and adult
male cats. The reasons for fighting vary, but are often related to territorial
aggression.
Bite wounds are most commonly inflicted around the neck, head, shoulders and
legs and sometimes around the back (if the pet is running away from the
aggressor), although in more intense fights wounds can occur in the chest and
abdomen. Because of the shape of animal's teeth and the natural fur coat of our
pets, the extent of the bite wound injury is not always obvious. To imagine
this, think of an iceberg, which is submerged so that only about 10% of its mass
is visible above the water. The initial puncture wounds from a bite are small
and often close over quickly so that they are almost invisible beneath the fur;
but under the surface, the significant damage that was caused by the bite wound
may be camouflaged by the apparently minor skin injury. All bite wounds are
contaminated with bacteria that originate from 3 sources - the attacker's mouth,
the victim's skin, and the environment.
The canine teeth of dogs, cats, and many of the wild predators common in
populated areas are sharp and curved, designed to puncture through the skin; as
the tooth punctures the skin, bacteria are driven deep into the wound tract
where they can set up a serious infection. If the animal gets a good hold of the
victim, its premolar and molar teeth, located along the sides of the jaws, will
inflict crushing injuries to the skin and underlying muscles.
Any damaged tissue will become inflamed and prone to becoming infected; if
the damage is severe, the tissues will become necrotic (die). If the attacking
animal shakes its victim, the teeth cause even more damage to the deep tissues,
but may not cause obvious skin lacerations because of the relative elasticity of
animal skin. Even more serious is the potential for rabies, a virus that is
transmitted through the saliva of infected animals, particularly wildlife. This
threat is one of the reasons why you should always keep your pet up-to-date on
rabies inoculations.
In some cases, you will be aware that your pet has been in a fight. If this
is the case, regardless of how minor you think the injuries may be, you should
take it to your veterinarian immediately for an examination and treatment. Early
intervention will minimize the severity of any potential infection and in some
cases, such as penetrating wounds to the chest or abdomen, may save your pet's
life. In order to assess the extent of the injuries, your veterinarian may need
to take x-rays or use other diagnostic tools such as endoscopy. If your cat was
bitten by another cat, your veterinarian will recommend viral testing for feline
leukemia and feline immunosuppressive virus 60 days after the injury occurred,
since these viral infections are commonly transmitted through saliva.
If your pet ventures outdoors unsupervised, you may not even be aware that it
has been in a fight until the wound becomes infected and begins to ooze (a
localized infection), or when your pet becomes lethargic or reluctant to move
due to pain and/or fever due to septicemia (a generalized infection). If there
are signs of septicemia, your pet may require hospitalization for intensive
treatment. If the infection is localized, an abscess may develop at the site of
the injury, especially in cats. In virtually all cases of local infection,
treatment will involve a surgical exploration of the site of injury so that all
infected or necrotic tissue can be removed. Depending on the degree of
infection, your veterinarian may put one or more surgical drains into the
surgical site or it may be necessary to leave a portion of the wound open to
allow drainage of infected material from the site. If an infected wound does not
begin to improve after this treatment, more aggressive treatment may be needed
to resolve the problem.
Because it heralds the start of breeding season in the wild, spring weather
often means an increase in the frequency and intensity of fights in dogs, cats,
and other small predatory animals. The best prevention is to keep your pet
supervised and on leash at all times while outdoors. If your pet does
accidentally get into a fight with another animal, don't delay in seeking
veterinary care. It could mean the difference between a relatively minor
procedure and an extensive and expensive hospital stay.
Caution: These news items, written by Lifelearn Inc., are
licensed to this practice for the personal use of our clients. Any copying,
printing or further distribution is prohibited without the express written
permission of Lifelearn Inc. Please note that the news information presented
here is NOT a substitute for a proper consultation and/or clinical examination
of your pet by our clinic veterinarian.
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