"Don't worry, he's all talk."
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It is a comment I hear from occasional clients when their dog or cat is growling, baring teeth or hissing at me, poised to strike.
But I cannot afford to assume that an animal is bluffing.
The truth is that animals who are fearful (as they often are in an unfamiliar setting, or one they associate with an unpleasant experience like having an injection) are more likely to resort to biting, scratching or otherwise defending themselves.
As a veterinarian, I handle animals frequently, and take great care in doing so.
But I am just as vulnerable to harm from animal bites, scratches, kicks or infectious disease as any other human being.
According to a study published in the Australian Veterinary Journal, animal bites were among the most common injuries suffered by veterinarians, veterinary nurses and veterinary students (Johnson and Fritschi, 2024).
Over sixty per cent of veterinary nurses, almost 55 per cent of veterinarians, and 40 per cent of veterinary students had been bitten in the last 12 months, with cats, dogs and horses being the most common offenders.
Cat bites in particular can be much more serious than they look.
The shape of feline teeth means that they tend to produce a very small wound in the skin, yet can lead to serious infections requiring hospitalisation and treatment with hefty antibiotics.
Due to the small size of wounds they produce, bites from animals with pointy teeth like cats are often trivialised.
One of my clients, a big burly man who was bitten at home when playing rough with his cat (a reminder never to encourage one's cat to attack one's hand), was hospitalised for a week. He later told me that his work colleagues had made fun of him because "it was only a cat".
Yet these bites have been previously identified as the source of the most workdays lost for veterinarians and nurses.
The study also found that ringworm, a fungal infection that causes skin disease in animals, was the most common infection contracted by veterinary team members through their work.
Veterinary team members increasingly undertake training in animal handling methods designed to minimise fear, anxiety and stress, which can reduce the risk of being bitten.
But what can those who care for animals do to ensure the safety of themselves and veterinary team members?
If your animal has a history of biting or scratching in veterinary settings, let the team know so they can prepare. If there are certain known triggers of this behaviour (for example, seeing another animal or certain procedures such as injections), let the team know. For example, there are some animals who are protective of their owners, and will bite the vet in the owner's presence, but not when the owner is out of view.
If your pet does not like a certain area of their body examined, tell the vet so that this can be examined last.
In some cases, your vet may dispense pre-visit pharmaceuticals or recommend sedation to help minimise fear, anxiety and stress. Alternatively, some animals may be calmer if a housecall can be arranged.
If you suspect that your animal has an infection, letting the vet team know in advance can prevent spread to other animals and people.
- JOHNSON, L. & FRITSCHI, L. 2024. Frequency of workplace incidents and injuries in veterinarians, veterinary nurses and veterinary students and measures to control these. Australian Veterinary Journal, n/a: https://doi.org/10.1111/avj.13354.
- Dr Anne Quain is a lecturer at the Sydney School of Veterinary Science and a practising veterinarian.
![Veterinary team members increasingly undertake training in animal handling methods designed to minimise fear, anxiety and stress. Photo Shutterstock Veterinary team members increasingly undertake training in animal handling methods designed to minimise fear, anxiety and stress. Photo Shutterstock](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/XTEauKLdkr5NZXsdBVqeEk/8a20f96e-bb1c-4010-ba87-ff7ab0009d44.jpg/r0_0_5614_3743_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)