Bite wounds in dogs and cats.

Bite wounds are a frequent injury in dogs and cats. Some bites are severe, causing crushing, avulsion, and devitalization of tissues beneath the skin. Bites can also crush the airway or penetrate the abdominal or thoracic cavities, resulting in life-threatening injuries. This article reviews the local mechanisms of trauma and systemic mediators involved in severe bite wound injuries and provides a plan for stabilization, injury assessment, and definitive bite would management.