We are all familiar with dog bites. Dog attacks are frequently in the news, and cause thousands of hospitalizations each and every year. They also cause many lawsuits each year as individuals sue the dog's owner for failing to control their animal. Interestingly enough, dogs aren't the only animals that can cause serious injuries and infections when they attack. Cats may seem docile and nonthreatening, but a research report by Health Day News seeks to prove the contrary. According to Health Day, cat bites may look less serious than dog bites, but they can cause serious and dangerous infections. Research indicates that cat bites are particularly dangerous when they involve the hand.

Cats have germs in their mouth, just like dogs and people. Also, when they bite, their sharp teeth can inject hard-to-treat bacteria into a wound. Sometimes, these bacteria will find its way into joints and will cause a serious, hard-to-treat infection. The Mayo Clinic, which also conducted research on cat bites, says that dog's teeth are blunter than cats, so they don't typically penetrate as deeply and they tend to leave a larger wound after they bite. Cat's teeth tend to seed bacteria in the joint and tendon sheaths.

Research shows that a pinpoint bite mark from a cat can cause a real problem if bacteria get into the tendon sheath or into the joint where they can grow with relative protection from blood and immune system. Researchers at the Mayo Clinic say that they researched about 200 cat bites situations between 2009 and 2011 and discovered that about half of the patients visited an emergency room for their injury. The rest went to their primary care physician. Normally, it took a victim over 24 hours to seek treatment for a cat bite. Most of those injured by cats were women, and the average age of the participants in the study was 49 years old.

The researchers said that 57 of the cat bite victims needed to be hospitalized, but only 36 of them were admitted immediately after they sought medical treatment. 38 patients required t surgery to clean the wound and remove infected tissue after the bite. The Journal of Hand Surgery also published an article recently regarding cat bites, and discovered that eight patients needed more than one surgical procedure and some needed constructive surgery after the cat bites.

80% of all patients were initially prescribed an oral antibiotic to help challenge their health, and 14% of the patients needed to be hospitalized when the medications did not treat the bites effectively. Cat bites need to be taken very seriously. Some people assume that cat bites can't possible cause serious injuries, but this couldn't be further from the truth. If you want to avoid infection and possible surgery, visit a doctor immediately after suffering a cat bite.

Also, if you are injured by a cat bite, don't hesitate to collect evidence and file a lawsuit against the cat owner, just like you would do if attacked by a dog. With the right local personal injury attorney there to help you, you may be able to prove that the cat bite caused serious pain and suffering and motivate the cat's owner to cover your medical bills, time off work during recovery, and more. Talk with a skilled attorney in your area if you are suffering the adverse effects of a cat bite and want assistance in your case!