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We are Kissimmee Wildlife, and we solve conflicts between people and wild animals. From squirrels in your attic, to raccoons in your trash, to bats, rats, birds, and snakes, we do it all. We specialize in safe and effective solutions to Florida critter problems. We service the greater Kissimmee region, and we offer fast service - we can usually schedule a same-day appointment. Give us a call at 407-794-8120 any time, 24/7, and we will discuss your unique wild animal problem, and give you a free price quote over the phone. We're ready to take your call now!

Our service range: We service Indian River County, Brevard County, Orange County, Okeechobee County, Highlands County, Polk County, and Lake County, and more. We also service St. Cloud, Buenaventura Lakes, Campbell, Celebration, Four Corners, Poinciana, Yeehaw Junction, Ashton, Bull Creek, Deer Park, Harmony, Holopaw, Intercession City, Kenansville, Lake Marian Highlands, Narcoosee, Reedy Creek, and more.

Kissimmee Wildlife Education: What If You Are Bitten By A Rat?

Rats are known for their long front teeth which makes the idea of being bitten by one a common concern. Luckily, rats are unlikely to bite you, even if you are asleep. If you happen to have food on your skin and get bitten, you will want to visit your doctor to take precautionary measures and prevent disease.



Unlikely To Be Bitten
The first thing to realize is that you are very unlikely to be bitten by a rat. They don’t typically bite humans, despite rumors that they do so while you are asleep. Experts believe that when they do bite people, it is because there are some small remnants of food on their skin that attracted the rodent and the animal wants to get these pieces of food.

Immediate Actions
Whether the rat that bites you is a domesticated or wild rat, you will want to stop bleeding as soon as possible. Because of their long teeth, a rat bite can be deep, leading to a heavy blood flow. Place gauze or a clean rag over the bite and apply pressure to stop the blood flow. After it stops, you can clean the wound with an antiseptic, alcohol, or hydrogen. Finally, place a bandage on top.

Visit Your Doctor
If the rat bite came from a domesticated rat, there is almost no chance that it carries rabies, especially without your knowledge. Therefore, you can just keep an eye on the wound and your overall health for about a week to make sure there is no infection or signs of rat-bite fever. If you notice anything unusual, visit your doctor.

In the case of wild rats, you should always visit the doctor after being bitten. Rabies is still rare, but wild rats are likely to carry other types of diseases and bacteria. Your doctor may suggest preventative action via an anti-rabies treatment even if you don’t think the rat that bit you had rabies. They may also suggest a tetanus shot or booster.

Watch For Rat-Bite Fever
Regardless of the circumstances of the bite, you will need to watch out for rat-bite fever afterwards. Some symptoms include swelling or rash by the bite, fever, chills, tenderness, discoloration, nausea, and vomiting. If you do develop rat-bite fever, it can be treated with penicillin and even without treatment, it is rarely fetal. It frequently goes away within a year without treatment, but you will want to speed up the healing process if possible.

Previous Education Articles
What do wildlife rehabilitator's do with wild Kissimmee animals?
Will a Kissimmee rodent in the attic have a nest of babies?
What is the best bait to trap a Kissimmee opossum?
What is a Kissimmee skunk's mating habits, when do they have babies, how do they raise their young?