Animal Bites and Your Health
Looking to report a bite or find information about animals and rabies? Visit our Animal Services page.
Steps after an animal bite
If you have been bitten by an animal:
Step 1: Wound care
Clean the wound: wash thoroughly with soap and water for 15 minutes to flush out the wound.
Seek prompt medical care if:
- The wound is a deep puncture or you're not sure how serious it is.
- The skin is badly torn, crushed or bleeding severely. First apply pressure with a bandage or clean cloth to stop the bleeding.
- You notice increasing swelling, skin color changes, pain or oozing. These are signs of infection.
Step 2: Check if your tetanus shot is up to date
You may need a tetanus booster if you haven't had one in 5 years. If you are unsure you are up to date, get a tetanus booster within 48-72 hours of injury.
You can access a digital copy of your vaccine records (if vaccinated in California) online: Digital Vaccine Record.
Step 3: Call Public Health if you've been told there is risk of rabies
The risk of rabies is high after certain types of animal bites, such as from bats and skunks.
If the wound was caused by a cat or a dog, try to confirm that the animal's rabies vaccination is up to date. However, the risk of rabies from a cat or dog bite is low.
You may need rabies treatment within 1 month of the bite. If you are at risk of getting rabies, call Public Health at 805-781-5500.
When to seek treatment for rabies
If the wild animal that bit you tests positive for rabies, contact Public Health for rabies treatment by calling 805-781-5500.
The animal may undergo quarantine (usually a two-week observation period) to see if signs of rabies develop. If the animal shows signs of rabies during the quarantine, you should get rabies treatment. It's recommend that you wait until the quarantined animal shows signs of rabies before getting treatment. If the animal does not show signs of rabies during quarantine, there is no need for rabies treatment.
If the animal that bit you is being tested in a lab for rabies, it is recommended that you wait to learn if the result is positive before getting rabies treatment.
Reporting an Animal Bite
To report animal bites or learn more about the management of the animal following an animal bite, call Animal Services at 805-781-4400.
Frequently Asked Questions
You may not know if the animal that bit you has rabies. The animal may undergo quarantine (usually a two-week observation period) to see if signs of rabies develop. If the animal shows signs of rabies during the quarantine, you should get rabies treatment.