Puncture wounds, which are common with animal and human bites, present a high risk of infection.

Rabies is a rare, but potentially fatal, disease transmitted by the saliva of a rabid animal (such as a bat, skunk, raccoon, or fox). There are only two ways to tell whether or not an animal is rabid: by capturing the animal and placing it under observation for 10 days, or by killing it and having its brain examined for signs of the disease. Don't go near an animal that may be rabid. Notify the proper authorities.

There is no cure for rabies once symptoms develop, but if vaccinated promptly after being exposed to the disease, the victim can develop immunity before symptoms develop.

If you believe you may have been exposed to rabies, you must get vaccinated immediately.

While transmission of rabies to a human is extremely rare, special considerations should be given to potential exposure to bats. Some health care providers believe that any potential contact with a bat, even simply seeing a bat in your house, mandates a rabies vaccination.

Some studies have shown that in the few cases of a human contracting rabies from a bat, many of the victims were not even aware they had been bitten by a bat. If you see a bat in your house or a bat touches you in any way, you should contact a health care provider immediately for advice.

Many animal bites, even if rabies vaccination or stitches are not required, should be treated with antibiotics. Animal bites to the hand or fingers especially warrant treatment with antibiotics. If you have any doubt about the need for treatment, seek medical care.

Pets are the most common cause of bites, with dog bites occurring most often. Cat bites are considered more serious due to the higher incidence of infection (due to longer, sharper teeth which can produce deeper puncture wounds). Stray animals and wild animals, such as skunks, raccoons, and bats, also inflict thousands of bites each year.

If bitten by a wild animal or by an unknown pet, try to keep it in view while you notify animal control authorities for help in capturing it. They will determine if the animal needs to be impounded and checked for rabies. Any animal for which the rabies vaccination status is unknown should be captured and quarantined.