In the Philippines, animal bites pose a significant public health concern. The Department of Health reported 260 human rabies cases from January to September 2025, highlighting the importance of awareness and prompt action when interacting with animals—whether they are pets, strays, or community animals.
Rabies is entirely preventable, but only if people are informed about how to recognize risks, respond appropriately, and seek the right kind of care. This blog aims to enhance your understanding of animal behavior, bite prevention, and proper treatment pathways, helping you stay safe while coexisting with animals in your home and community.
Why Awareness Makes a Difference
Many bite incidents arise from misunderstandings. Animals communicate discomfort well before they react defensively, but humans often misinterpret or overlook these signals. Sudden movements, crowding an animal, or touching them during sensitive moments (such as when they are eating or resting) can unintentionally provoke fear or stress.
The more we understand these cues, the fewer risky situations we create for ourselves and the animals around us.
Common Reasons Bites Occur
Animal behavior experts identify several key patterns behind bite incidents:
- Missed Warning Signs: Animals often display clear physical signals when they feel overwhelmed or uneasy. These can include rigid posture, avoidance behaviors, facial tension, or protective actions. For example, cats may show subtle signs of stress, such as tail flicking or flattened ears.
- Overstimulation: Extended play or physical contact can push pets beyond their comfort limits. As Rina Ortiz, CEO of Biyaya Animal Care, notes, many bites occur simply because “people don’t notice when an animal has had enough.”
- Approaching Unfamiliar Animals: Stray animals, unfamiliar pets, and animals in public spaces may be startled by touch, even if they appear friendly.
- Intruding on Their Personal Space: Animals, like humans, value their personal space. Approaching them when they are tired, startled, in pain, or eating increases the chances of a defensive reaction.
Understanding these triggers can help prevent incidents before they happen.
Preventing Animal Bites
Preventive knowledge is a powerful safety tool that benefits both people and animals. Here are some key practices recommended by veterinarians, animal welfare groups, and WHO rabies prevention guidelines:
- Understand Basic Animal Behavior
Dr. Van Cruz, a licensed veterinarian and One Health epidemiologist from the Philippines, emphasizes the importance of reading animal body language. Dogs and cats express stress differently, and recognizing these signs can help you intervene before problems arise.
- Give Animals Space to Feel Safe
If an animal backs away, stiffens, growls, hisses, or avoids eye contact, it’s important to give them space. Never force interaction when an animal shows signs of discomfort.
- Teach Children Proper Interaction
Children may unintentionally provoke animals by hugging too tightly, running toward them, or grabbing their ears and tails. Teaching children to interact gently and respectfully can significantly reduce the risk of bites.
- Provide Adequate Care for Pets
Understimulated or anxious pets are more likely to react defensively. As Rina Ortiz points out, well-exercised and mentally stimulated animals tend to be more stable and less reactive.
- Consider Pre-Exposure Vaccination (Pre-EP)
Pre-EP is recommended for individuals who regularly handle animals, such as rescuers, community feeders, and volunteers. This vaccination provides an additional layer of protection in high-contact environments.
What to Do If You Are Bitten
Taking immediate and proper first aid steps can significantly reduce the risk of infection or complications:
- Clean the Wound Thoroughly
Wash the area with soap and running water for 10 to 15 minutes. This step alone can greatly lower the risk of infection. - Disinfect and Protect the Area
Apply an antiseptic to the wound and cover it with a sterile dressing to protect it from further contamination. - Seek Medical Attention Right Away
Even small scratches can transmit rabies, which is a fatal disease once symptoms appear. Early medical intervention is crucial.
Where to Get Proper Treatment
When it comes to animal bite care, Animal Bite Treatment Centers (ABCs or ABTCs) are the recommended first-stop facilities.
These centers adhere to standardized Department of Health (DOH) bite-care protocols and typically offer the following services:
- Trained personnel dedicated to bite management
- Proper vaccine handling and storage
- Thorough wound assessment and categorization
- Up-to-date procedures for both minor and severe exposures
If an ABC/ABTC is not immediately accessible, proceed to the nearest hospitals and clinics.
Animal bites are preventable, but effective prevention requires awareness, patience, and knowledge. By learning to interpret animal behavior, respecting boundaries, teaching safe practices at home, and knowing where to seek help, we not only protect ourselves but also foster more compassionate relationships with the animals around us.
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GLAPI believes that care should be both accessible and effective. That’s why we have recently partnered with Dr. Care Animal Bite Center to expand access to qualified bite-care services for our members and partners. Through this collaboration, we aim to make specialized bite treatment more accessible and ensure prompt, proper medical responses when it matters most.
Sources
- Department of Health (2025). Rabies Case Surveillance Report.
- Rina Ortiz and Biyaya Animal Care. Rabies Awareness and Bite Prevention Video. https://youtu.be/tXrwmvFLzGo
- Dr. Van Denn Cruz, DVM
- World Health Organization (WHO). Rabies Fact Sheet.
