Vicious animal bites are no joke. From sharks to jaguars to poisonous snakes, many of the deadliest animals in the world also happen to have very strong jaws and sharp teeth that can easily tear into flesh and rip chunks out of their prey or attacker.

There are several ways you can protect yourself from vicious animal bites, like avoiding dangerous places or keeping your distance from certain animals, and treating your wounds in a timely manner, but no matter what you do, it’s best to know how to survive the most dangerous animal bites in case something goes wrong.

Vicious animal bites can lead to infections and other long-term health problems, not to mention the immediate pain and discomfort that comes with getting bitten by an animal.

If you know how to handle these vicious animal bites, you may be able to survive them. Learn about how to survive the most dangerous animal bites with this guide.

If you’re in the wilderness or even just walking around your city, it’s best to be aware of which animals may bite you and how to avoid those situations or survive them if the worst happens. This article will tell you what animals are most likely to bite, how they bite, and what you can do if you get bitten by one of these wild creatures.

If You Are Bitten By A Dog

If you’re bitten by a dog, go immediately to your nearest emergency room and seek treatment. Dog bite wounds can be infected or carry a disease that’s not apparent at first (such as rabies).

If you have been attacked by a dog, never try to remove any debris from your wound, and don’t put yourself at risk by approaching or trying to control it—the consequences could be disastrous.

And if you have children, consider having them vaccinated for rabies. It may sound extreme, but it’s better safe than sorry!

If You Are Bitten By A Cat

For one thing, cats can have rabies. If you’re bitten by a cat or dog, wash your wound with soap and water immediately, report it to local health authorities within 24 hours, and be prepared for treatment in case you were exposed to rabies.

Local health authorities will want to know about any potential exposure (animal bite) and what kind of animal bit you.

Rabies is more common among bats than any other type of mammal, but raccoons also carry it often enough that anyone who was bitten by one should follow up with their local health department within 24 hours.

How To Treat An Animal Bite

First, clean and treat for infection: The Centers for Disease Control recommends cleaning with soap and water and then disinfecting a wound from an animal bite or scratch as soon as possible after it occurs.

It’s important not to put any ointments on a fresh wound, because they can make it harder for doctors to detect an infection later on down the road.

Further, use an antibiotic ointment (such as Neosporin) until your doctor tells you it’s okay to stop; typically, two weeks of treatment is sufficient in adults but be sure to follow your doctor’s instructions.

10 Animals with the most vicious bites – and how to survive them

How much does it cost to Treat?

Dog bites are never cheap—in fact, it’s estimated that dog attacks cost Americans around $2 billion a year in medical bills and lost wages.

The top five culprits? The German shepherd, Rottweiler, pit bull, Labrador retriever, and Jack Russell terrier (though all dogs can bite).

As such, it’s important to know how much you stand to lose if one of these pups gets a hold of you; some minor wounds can require thousands of dollars in reconstructive surgery and long-term care (if not amputation) while serious ones could run upwards of six figures.

Which Animal Bites Are Most Dangerous?

The strength and size of an animal are far greater than our own, which means that they can do more damage with a single bite than we could ever hope to.

But there’s another factor that determines which dangerous animal bites are worse—the infection risk.

Whether or not an injury becomes infected largely depends on where it is, so you should be particularly wary of a bite near your eyes, mouth, or deep in your body tissue (and if you’re bitten anywhere else by an unknown creature, call for medical help immediately).

A bite from a carnivorous predator also puts you at higher risk for infection because their mouths harbor more bacteria than those of herbivores and omnivores—in other words, carnivores like dogs have stronger immune systems but dirtier mouths.

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What types of animals do the most damage?

Snakes, alligators, sharks, and bees can all deliver lethal bites that may lead to infection or death. Even if you don’t die from a bite, it’s likely that you will experience severe pain for days on end and also suffer from an enormous amount of trauma in terms of scarring.

Some animals simply inflict a few wounds with their teeth while others inject venom into your system so quickly that it’s hard to know what hit you until after it’s already too late.

If you suspect someone is suffering from a dangerous bite, take them immediately to an emergency room without any hesitation whatsoever as time is usually of the essence when dealing with these types of injuries.

The animals that pose a serious risk in the United States

According to wildlife officials, here’s a shortlist of U.S. animals that present serious risk: Grizzly bear, Kodiak bear, American alligator, black bear, large sharks (like bull sharks and great whites), certain species of snakes (including rattlesnakes), crocodiles and caimans in Central America and several other small but dangerous lizards known as Gila monsters; feral dogs in Central America; and potentially rabid coyotes throughout North America where rabies is prevalent—yes, even in urban areas.

What To Do Immediately After The Bite Happens

Have someone get you to a hospital or clinic as soon as possible, and keep your arm or leg elevated so that blood can flow back into your body. It’s also important not to apply any pressure at all on your wound since it could make it harder for you to stop bleeding.

You may have read horror stories about people’s attempts at self-surgery after a snake bite — don’t be like them!

Also, stay calm so that you don’t end up causing more damage than there already is by pressing too hard on damaged tissue.

Do I have an infection?

First and foremost, it’s important to address whether or not you have an infection after a bite from a dangerous animal.

You may feel fine immediately following an attack, but medical attention is still advised because infections can develop at any time (up to several days after a bite).

If you suspect an infection, visit your doctor right away. Some animals can carry life-threatening diseases—like rabies and anthrax—so it’s important to see a professional as soon as possible in case of infection.

Be sure to tell your doctor where you were bitten; they will then be able to better assess potential risks and complications that could arise due to exposure to venomous bacteria or other disease-causing agents in their saliva (or other bodily fluids).

10 Dangerous wild Animals that are so Unpredictable

What is next?

In light of recent news about viral videos of zombie-like animals, it’s clear that many creatures on earth can be dangerous.

Each year, people are left with gruesome wounds from venomous snake bites, hippo attacks, and even shark bites (the latter only affect a small number of people).

To save yourself from turning into a viral sensation online in a negative way, you should know what do to if you find yourself in one of these scary situations.

The best way to avoid injury is by being prepared for whatever situation may occur when dealing with animals that bite or sting—it may sound morbid, but knowing what your options help ensure survival and success!

Conclusion

When you need medical help, what do you do? If you’re anything like me, your response is probably along these lines:

Go online and search for all sorts of information about what could possibly be wrong with me. The truth is, despite access to loads of information about medicine on our phones and tablets, there’s really only one thing we can do if we suspect that an animal bite has occurred—contact a doctor immediately.

Even if your wound doesn’t look as dangerous as it feels, try not to delay in contacting a doctor because they might be able to treat you with medications before infection sets in and makes matters worse.