How Bad Can A Cat Bite Be?

I’m ask all the time, “what is the big deal about grooming cats?” Obvious cats will not stand on the table the way a dog wouldl. They curl into little balls when you try and brush or clipper their bellies. The real danger is when a groomer is bitten. Why is it that cat bites can be so dangerous? Over one million bites are reported in the United States yearly, most in children. Close contact with cats poses an important health risk to certain segments of the human population.

Cat bite wounds are more likely to become infected in people who are under 10 years of age or more than 50 years old. Systemic complications from bit wounds occur more commonly when the patient has underlying disease such as liver or kidney failure, diabetes mellitus, or degenerative joint disease.

Infection with human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV), or treatment with immunosuppressive drugs for cancer, immune-mediated diseases or for organ transplantation, have rendered these patients more susceptible to infection with zoonotic diseases. Patients with prosthetic heart valves or joints are more likely to develop systemic or local complications from cat bite wounds. If you are bitten by a cat, contact your doctor immediately.

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