Although dog bites are far more common than cat bites, a feline attack is more likely to result in infection. Rarely, however, are animal bites fatal. More Americans die each year from the sting of a wasp, a bee, or a fire ant than from the bite of an animal--including snakebites. Those most at risk are the small percentage of people who suffer anaphylactic shock, an allergic reaction to the formic acid in a bee, wasp, or fire ant sting. It can result in death unless treated promptly.

If the skin is torn when you're bitten by an animal, wash the area with soap and water and hold it under running water for a few minutes to wash out any saliva. Then see a doctor, who will clean the damaged tissue and initiate antibiotic treatment. To treat superficial bites, wash with soap and water and apply an antiseptic, such as hydrogen peroxide or an antibiotic cream.

For bee stings and insect bites, folk healers recommend applying everything from baking soda or a wad of chewed tobacco to a slice of raw onion. Mud is another popular poultice for stings and bites. Not only does it soothe the wound, but the stinger is likely to come out when the dried mud is removed. The faster you extract the stinger, the better: Gently flick it with a credit card or the side of a knife instead of grasping it with your fingernails or tweezers, which can actually release more venom.

Herbal Remedies

Papain Commercial meat tenderizers are the most readily avail- able source of papain, an enzyme derived from papaya skin's milky juice. To treat an insect bite, moisten a teaspoon of meat tenderizer with a little water and rub it immediately into the skin; papain's protein-digestive properties will help decompose the venom. Papain may induce allergic reactions in sensitive people. Meat tenderizers may also contain monosodium glutamate (MSG), to which some people show sensitivity.

Plantain Not to be confused with the banana variety of the same name, plantain (Plantago major) is a weed that grows in most parts of the world and is valued for its wound-healing properties. To treat bites or stings, apply a poultice made from crushed fresh leaves. Or use a commercial plantain extract. Aloe vera A time-tested wound soother and emollient, aloe vera is one of the most widely used herbal folk remedies in the U.S. Apply it to a bite or sting, using fresh gel scooped from the leaf. Fresh gel is more effective than many of the aloe products found in stores.

Tip: Mother Was Wrong

Folklore says that if you let the dog that bites you lick the wound, it will speed up healing. But a dog's rough tongue is more likely to irritate than soothe, and the bacteria in a dog's mouth can cause infection.