Dog bites
The majority of dog bites are unprovoked, usually by a family dog or a dog that belongs to a friend or neighbour.
Dogs are territorial creatures. Many innocent actions will be perceived by a dog as an invasion of its territory, and may be interpreted as a hostile act, resulting in a bite. This can include:
- disturbing a dog when it is sleeping
- disturbing a dog when it is eating
- disturbing a dog when it is caring for its puppies
- people running, screaming, or shouting in the presence of a dog
- being petted by somebody they do not know (always let a dog smell your hand before you stroke it)
Some dogs, particularly young ones, can get over-excited when playing, and they may accidently give a friendly nip. Dogs that are sick or in pain can also react unpredictably.
The dog breeds that are most likely to cause more severe bites are the larger and stronger dogs. These include:
- German shepherds (Alsatians)
- pit bulls (pit bulls are banned in England under the terms of the Dangerous Dog Act 1991)
- rottweilers
- dobermans
- chows
However, any breed of dog should be regarded as being potentially dangerous, and smaller dogs such as Jack Russells, dachshunds and chihuahuas are often more aggressive than larger dogs.
Cat bites
It is estimated that the majority of cat bites come from stray, female cats. All cats are predators, so they can react unpredictably, and this is particularly true of cats that are not used to living in a house with people (undomesticated).
Around one-in-five cat bites are from a person’s own cat. There are four key reasons why your pet cat might bite:
- Your cat mistakes a sudden action for an aggressive act.
- Like dogs, cats or kittens can get excited when they are playing, and can jump at and bite any moving object, such as your hand.
- If your cat cannot attack its intended target, such as another cat, it may lash out at the nearest target.
- For reasons that are unclear, an apparently content cat can suddenly bite their owner after being petted for a few minutes.
Human bites
The majority of human bites happen when one person punches another person in the teeth (fight-bites). This is usually in young men who have been drinking alcohol.
Intentional bites can be common in very young children and in people with severe learning difficulties, as they are often unaware that such behaviour is socially unacceptable.
Accidental bites can happen during contact sports, such as rugby and football, when a person accidentally knocks into another person’s teeth.
Accidental bites can also occur during vigorous sexual activity, particularly oral sex. Although you may feel embarrassed, always seek medical treatment for an accidental bite that has happened in this way, because this type of bite has a high risk of becoming infected.
Other causes of human bites include:
- domestic violence or sexual assault
- accidentally biting your tongue during a seizure (fit)
- self-inflicted biting, which can sometimes occur in people who are emotionally disturbed or are mentally disabled
Read more about avoiding bites.
