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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Is Rabies Injection Recommended For Dog Scratch?

Hello.I was scratched by my dog while wearing pajamas. Scratch did not bleed but skin was broken. I washed it with soap and cleaned it with hydrogen peroxide. Would the saliva from the dog's nails still reach my skin and need to see a doctor or was it filtered on the pajamas?, Should I get an anti tetanus shot and rabies vaccine?. Your advice is greatly appriciated. Thank you
Tue, 7 Feb 2017
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General & Family Physician 's  Response
Hello!
I hope the dog was immunised. Even if not there is nothing to be worried. As you said you managed to get a scratch and there was no bleeding. There would still be a chance of infection. It is advisable for you to get vaccinated.
The World Health Organisation categories scratch without bleeding as category II based on the degree of exposure and vaccination is recommended in this case.
There are two kinds of vaccine regimes available, intramuscular and intradermal (in the skin). Intramuscular injections are common, 5 doses on days 0,3,7, 14 and 28.
It is also advisable to get tetanus vaccination also if you haven't in the past 5 years.
I hope the advice was useful, please feel free to write back if you have further queries.

Regards.
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Infectious Diseases Specialist Dr. Dr. Monika Dede's  Response
Hello!
I have been through your question .
Related your concern and based on your history(your dog and scratch did not bleed) that the type of exposure consider minor, I think it is not necessary to do the rabies vaccine if you are sure that your dog is vaccinated, but if your not you should start to apply the 1 dose of vaccination and should interrupt vaccination if your dog remains healthy throughout an observation time of 10 days or by a lab test that exclude rabies in your dog. Furthermore related the anti tetanous shot you should know that if you are vaccinated for tetanous within lats 10 years you don't need a shot ( you have still immunisation for this), as well as based on your scratch condition that did not bleed I think that you don't need a anti rabies shot but just wash with soap and clean with antiseptic as you have done.
I hope my answer help you.
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Is Rabies Injection Recommended For Dog Scratch?

Hello! I hope the dog was immunised. Even if not there is nothing to be worried. As you said you managed to get a scratch and there was no bleeding. There would still be a chance of infection. It is advisable for you to get vaccinated. The World Health Organisation categories scratch without bleeding as category II based on the degree of exposure and vaccination is recommended in this case. There are two kinds of vaccine regimes available, intramuscular and intradermal (in the skin). Intramuscular injections are common, 5 doses on days 0,3,7, 14 and 28. It is also advisable to get tetanus vaccination also if you haven t in the past 5 years. I hope the advice was useful, please feel free to write back if you have further queries. Regards.