2024-05-07 20:51:26
Los domestic animals they have in their organism certain microorganisms that they may not do anything to them; but, in case of a bite or scratch, they can cause an infection. We see a good example of this in cats. In fact, there is even a disease known as cat scratch. In reality, it is something very rare, since the most normal thing is that this type of injury does not cause any infection. People who live with cats know this well. Most of them have a good number of scratches on their bodies and have never had to regret any. However, in some cases treatment is necessary. The case of the cat bites is different and also that of the dogs. But is there one case more dangerous than another?
Before answering this question, it is important to make something clear. This article is not a demonization of dogs or cats. Both are loving and faithful pets (Although cats sometimes seem like they only want to dominate the world, they love us too). It all depends on the tastes we have as humans and what type of pet we get along with the most. If they can hurt us, it is generally unintentional and the probability that the injury will become serious is very low. In our daily lives, we can suffer many wounds susceptible to infection And that doesn’t mean we stop acting in certain ways. That said, it is true that it is important to know a little more about cat or dog bites, to act accordingly if necessary.
And for that, without any desire to make both animals compete, it does not hurt to know which ones are more susceptible to infection. Thus, we can act accordingly.
Which one gets infected more?
In reality, whether a wound becomes infected depends on many factors, from how quickly we wash and cure it to where it happens. But, in the case of dog and cat bites, it has also been studied whether the animal itself is one of those factors.
For example, in 2006 a team of scientists from the Chilean Society of Infectology published an article about the likelihood of infection from cat, dog, and other pet bites. Thus, when comparing the cases reported in his country, they verified that the incidence of infections with cat bites is and 50%approximately double that of those produced by dogs.
It should be noted that this is the percentage of infections in cases of cat or dog bites treated in health centers. There will be many other injuries that are healed directly at home, without going to a doctor, so the percentage will probably be Much lower.
That said, it is true that there are bacteria in the body of cats, such as Pasteurella multocida, also present in dogs, which can often cause infections in humans. There is also another one, called Bartonella henselaewhich is mostly associated with cat scratch disease, although it can also be contracted from bites.
In the case of scratches, the vast majority of them, even though they cause infection, They heal without the need for treatment. In fact, there are studies that compare the time to resolution of the infection with antibiotic treatment. with azithromycin or placebo and you don’t see any difference. However, cat bites can lead to more serious infections, so it is often given amoxicillin with clavulanate as prevention.
Credit: Erik Jan (Unsplash)
Why do cat bites cause more infections?
There are two main reasons why cat bites tend to cause more infections than dog bites. Firstly, because there is a greater chance of transmitting enough bacteria in a single bite. In fact, the bacteria P. multocidaalthough present in both animals, is found in a 25-50% of dogsIn front of a 70-90% of cats.
Besides, cats’ teeth are long, thin and sharp, so they act like small needles, which can penetrate much deeper into the skin. This causes the infection to be greater.
In any case, we have already seen that it is easily solved with antibiotic and that it is very strange that it has gravity. It may not be advisable for an immunosuppressed person to have pets. But someone in good health can have them without a problem. The benefits of sharing our lives with one of these furry friends are much greater than those possible risks.
Still, it’s good to know them. Therefore, if you have animals at home, do not bother them or encourage them to bite and if a bite occurs while they are playing, wash it, apply antiseptic and consult with your doctor. That is the only prevention that should be taken into account. Otherwise, enjoy your pet.