Animal Bites and Scratches Treatment in Orange County, CA

Affordable Walk-In Treatment for Animal Bites and Scratches

Animal bites, scratches, and cuts are common but should not be ignored, as breaks in the skin from scratches and bites can allow bacteria to enter causing an infection. If untreated, more severe infections can spread and cause complications such as organ failure. That’s why it is essential to seek immediate medical care for animal bites and scratches, even if they are minor and caused by your pet.

At FCCMG, we offer best-in-class treatment for animal bites and scratches with personalized care and attention. We have three urgent care locations in Irvine, Costa Mesa, and Fountain Valley, which are open seven days a week.

Highlights of Our Urgent Care Facilities

Certified, well-trained, and experienced providers
Online check-in to avoid wait times
On-site x-ray and lab facilities

Friendly and compassionate staff
Open 7 days a week with extended hours
Free parking

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How to Identify If My Bite and Scratches Need Medical Attention?

Your bite or scratch may need immediate medical attention if it:

Is near a joint, or located on the face, neck, hands, or feet
Keeps bleeding even after applying direct pressure to the wound
Is caused by an animal that was wild, stray, or behaving strangely
Is deep, large, or severe
Causes pus-like discharge, redness, swelling, or intense pain

Things to Do While Seeking Medical Care for an Animal Bite or a Scratch

Before visiting an urgent care for your treatment, keep the following recommendations in mind.

If you experience severe bleeding from the wound, apply pressure to it with a clean cloth or bandage to slow down the bleeding
Clean small wounds with soap and water and hold them under running water for a few minutes. Dry the wound, apply antibiotic ointment, and cover it with a clean cloth or sterile gauze.

Remember, children with animal bites may need antibiotics, a tetanus shot, or in rare instances, a rabies shot to prevent infections and other complications. If your child has a weakened immune system or an existing medical condition, take your child to an urgent care center immediately after a bite or scratch. Also, the risk of infection increases if their tetanus shots are not up to date.

What Does Your Healthcare Provider Need to Know About an Animal Bite?

During your appointment for an animal bite treatment, inform your healthcare provider about the following items:

Location of the incident
Whether it is a domestic or wild animal
Type of wound (scratch, cut, or open wound)
If you know whether the animal has been immunized against rabies
Whether or not the animal was behaving oddly (if sick, mention the symptoms present in the animal)
Number of exposures
Whether or not the animal was captured for quarantine or testing

How Do We Diagnose and Treat Animal Bites and Scratches?

At FCCMG, our animal bites and scratches diagnosis begins with examining the affected area to assess the depth of the scratch/bite. We will also review your symptoms to check whether your wound is infected.

Depending on the location and severity of the wound, we may recommend any of the following treatment options:

Oral or IV antibiotics – Recommended if your wound is infected, deeper, or more likely to cause an infection
Tetanus Shot – To prevent tetanus (a life-threatening infection)

Why You Should Treat Even Small Animal Bites and Scratches

Untreated animal bites and scratches may cause the following health complications:

Risk factors for developing a chest cold include:

Potential nerve and blood vessel damage
Bacterial or rabies infections
An infection from a broken animal tooth or a foreign object lodged in your wound

The following animals may pose an especially high risk of infection:

Cats
Dogs
Wild animals (bats, skunks, foxes, raccoons, and wild dogs)

So, to avoid risks of infection, make sure to update your tetanus shots. If you own a pet, ensure it is properly licensed and immunized.

FAQs

You should seek urgent care for an animal bite or scratch if the wound is deep, won't stop bleeding, shows signs of infection (redness, swelling, pus), or if the animal was wild or acting unusually. Also, if the bite occurred on the face, hands, or joints.

Animal bites and scratches can introduce bacteria into the body, leading to infections. Common risks include bacterial infections such as Pasteurella, Capnocytophaga, or Staphylococcus. Infections can lead to fever, redness, swelling, and pus at the site of the wound.

No, urgent care centers do not provide rabies shots but can evaluate you to determine if they are needed. No, urgent care centers do not provide rabies shots but can evaluate you to determine if they are needed.

At urgent care, treatment for animal bites and scratches typically involves thoroughly cleaning the wound, possibly stitching the wound if necessary, and prescribing antibiotics to help prevent infection.

Symptoms of an infection from an animal bite or scratch include redness, swelling, warmth, pain at the site, pus drainage, fever, and swollen lymph nodes. If you notice any of these symptoms, it's important to seek medical attention immediately.

Minor animal bites that are abrasions can often be treated at home if the wound is small and clean. You should wash the bite with soap and water, apply an antiseptic, and cover it with a clean bandage. However, if the bite involves a puncture from a cat, the bite becomes red, swollen, or painful, or if it was caused by an animal with an unknown vaccination status, seek medical care.

You may need a tetanus shot if the bite or scratch is deep or if the wound was caused by a dirty or rusty object. If you haven't had a tetanus booster in the last 5 to 10 years, urgent care may recommend a tetanus shot.

Immediately clean the bite or scratch with soap and water, apply an antiseptic, and cover it with a clean bandage. If the animal's vaccination status is unknown, or if the bite is from a wild animal, seek urgent care immediately. Keep an eye on the wound for any signs of infection.

Cat scratches can be more dangerous than dog bites in some cases because cats’ claws are more likely to transmit bacteria like Bartonella, which can lead to "cat scratch fever." While dog bites may cause more damage due to the force of the bite, the risks depend on the animal’s health and vaccination status.

Bites from wild animals like raccoons, bats, and rodents, as well as unvaccinated dogs and cats, are most likely to cause infections. Wild animals pose the greatest risk for various zoonotic diseases. Dogs and cats, especially when they are not properly vaccinated, can transmit bacteria that lead to infections.

Visit Our Urgent Care Centers for Animal Bites and Scratches Treatment

Whether you are dealing with an animal bite or scratch, visit us at one of our urgent care clinics Irvine Woodbridge Walk-In Urgent Care, or Costa Mesa Urgent Care, today for prompt diagnosis and treatment. With our dedicated medical attention, you can effectively manage your condition while preventing complications.