All animal bites require treatment based on the type and severity of the wound. Whether the bite is from a family pet or an animal in the wild, scratches and bites can become infected and cause scarring. Animals can also carry diseases that can be transmitted through a bite.

Approximately 5 percent of dog bites and 20 to 50 percent of cat bites become infected. Bites that break the skin and bites of the scalp, face, hand, wrist, or foot are more likely to become infected.

Cat scratches, even from a kitten, can carry "cat scratch disease," a bacterial infection. Other animals can transmit rabies and tetanus. Rodents such as mice, rats, squirrels, chipmunks, hamsters, guinea pigs, gerbils, and rabbits are at low risk to carry rabies.

The most common type of animal bite is a dog bite. More than 1,000,000 Americans are attacked by dogs each year - about half of them are children.

Follow these guidelines to help decrease the chance of your child being bit by an animal:

• Never leave a young child alone with an animal.
• Teach your child not to tease or hurt an animal.
• Teach your child to avoid strange dogs, cats and other animals.
• Have your pets licensed and immunized against rabies and other diseases.
• Keep your pets in a fenced yard or confined to a leash when outdoors.