5 Tips On What To Do If Your Rabbit Bites You
Here are some tips on what to do if a rabbit bites you. Rabbit bites are not a common phenomenon. These are animals that do not present particular problems of aggression and, until a few years ago, were not yet widespread as pets.
Today it very often happens that one or more rabbits are present within a family unit, which increases the chances of being bitten if the animal is not properly educated or if its ethology and behavioral needs are not respected.
Avoid situations where your rabbit can bite you
The first advice to follow against a rabbit bite is to avoid that the animal bites you. Rabbits (and animals in general) do not bite for no reason. Often it is we who create situations that cause the animal to be so stressed that it feels threatened to the point that, as a last resort, it is forced to bite.
Inadequate or excessive handling can cause the rabbit to feel uncomfortable and end up biting the hands of its guardian. This is a strong, rapid bite that can cause damage to tendons or even bones.
Keep calm: they do not transmit disease
If, for whatever reason, a rabbit bites you, you can rest easy. Generally, domestic rabbits do not transmit diseases. On rare occasions, they can transmit Pasteurella multocida , responsible for pasteurellosis, a disease that is common only in poorly managed rabbit farms.
Only in endemic areas, such as the United States, have rabbits been associated with the transmission of Francisella tularensis , the bacterium responsible for tularemia, also called rabbit fever.
If your rabbit bites you, wash the wound well
In case of a rabbit bite, the first thing we need to do is wash the wound properly with plenty of water and a mild soap. In this way we will avoid the entry of microorganisms inside the wound and we will reduce the bacterial load that may be present on the skin.
In fact, we need to treat these kinds of wounds like any scratch we may suffer during the day, as long as the wound doesn’t have excessive bleeding. In a case like this, it’s best to go to the emergency room as soon as possible.
The use of antibiotics is not necessary
Faced with this type of bite, the use of antibiotics is not recommended, since the frequency of infection is minimal. By taking them, we could create a greater problem, such as fueling antibiotic resistance.
As we said, the wound must instead be washed and checked for symptoms of infection. In this case, the best thing to do is to see your doctor as soon as possible.
If your rabbit bites you, get vaccinated against tetanus
Following a bite from any animal, a secondary tetanus infection can develop. This disease is caused by a neurotoxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium tetani . The spores of this bacterium are found in the soil and in feces and can therefore enter our body through the wounds produced by the bite.
However, it is not necessary to undergo vaccination against rabies. First, if the rabbit is our pet, it shouldn’t have been infected with rabies.
Second, the chances that an infected rabbit will transmit anger are very low. Finally, the rabies virus has been eradicated in various areas of the world, especially those where there is strict veterinary control.
