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Animal and human bites

Find out what to do if you've been bitten by an animal or person, including first aid advice, when to get medical help and what treatment you may need.

About this information

This NHS content is written for people in England. Services, entitlements and contact routes may differ in other countries.

What to do after animal or human bites

There are some things you can do after being bitten by an animal or a person.

Do

  • clean the wound with soap and warm water

  • gently squeeze the wound so it bleeds slightly (unless it's already bleeding) – this can help reduce the risk of infection

  • press a dry dressing or clean cloth firmly onto the wound to stop the bleeding if it's bleeding heavily

  • after cleaning the wound, gently pat it dry and cover it with a clean dressing

  • take paracetamol or ibuprofen to help ease any pain and swelling – children under 16 should not take aspirin

Get help from NHS 111 if:

You've been bitten and:

  • you think there may be objects like teeth, hair or dirt in the wound
  • the bite is hot or swollen (it may also be painful, red or darker than the surrounding skin, which may be harder to see on black or brown skin)
  • you have a high temperature, or feel hot, cold or shivery
  • fluid is leaking from the bite
  • the bite smells unpleasant
  • you were bitten on your hands, feet, face or head
  • you were bitten by a person
  • you have not had a tetanus vaccine in the last 10 years

You can call 111 or get help from 111 online .

Go to A&E if:

You've been bitten by an animal or person and:

  • the wound is large or deep
  • you cannot stop the bleeding

If a body part, such as part of a finger or ear has been torn off, wrap it in clean tissue and put it in a plastic bag. Put some ice around the bag and take it with you to hospital.

Find your nearest A&E

A&E safety messaging

Do not drive to A&E. Ask someone to drive you or call 999 and ask for an ambulance.

Bring any medicines you take with you.

Treatments for animal and human bites

If you've been bitten by an animal or person, a doctor or nurse will check the wound.

They may:

  • clean the bite thoroughly – if the wound is very dirty, some of the affected area may need to be removed to reduce the risk of infection
  • close the wound with stitches, sticky strips or special glue, or leave it open to heal
  • give you antibiotics to stop the wound becoming infected
  • check your risk of getting tetanus and rabies – you'll be given treatment to prevent these serious infections if needed

If you've been bitten by a person, you may also be offered a blood test to check for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV.

Animal and human bites

Self-care

Animal and human bites

Medical treatments

If you've been bitten by a person or animal, clean the bite with soap and water, cover it with a dressing and take painkillers if you're in pain.

Treatments for animal and human bites may include cleaning the wound, closing it with stitches and taking antibiotics to prevent infection.

Content supplied by the NHS website

Content supplied by the NHS website, refreshed 19 August 2026. View the original NHS article ↗

Licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 ↗. MyPHU is independent and is not endorsed by the NHS.