My dog scratched my finger while playing, although not a bite or a deep cut but it bled a little. Will I be fine?
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My dog scratched my finger while playing, although not a bite or a deep cut but it bled a little. Will I be fine?
Although you are less likely to contract severe illness from a dog scratch, there is still a possibility of it happening. If you are scratched by a dog, here’s what you need to know. Dogs walk on all four feet and dig in whatever they can find, which means dog nail beds are very dirty. They can harbor all sorts of bacteria and fungi that can readily infect humans through broken skin, including tetanus. Dogs also lick their paws, transferring bacteria from the mouth onto the nails. This can, in rare cases, infect humans with MRSA or bacteria called Capnocytophaga if the scratch breaks the skin. Animal scratches may seem harmless, but they can turn into serious infections if the skin is broken. Puncture wounds may look the least serious, but they carry the highest risk of severe infection. If the scratch is bleeding heavily, apply pressure with a clean towel until the bleeding has stopped. Once the bleeding has subsided, wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water for three minutes. Clean and dry the skin, and then apply a small amount of antibiotic ointment and cover the wound with a bandage. Make sure to check the scratch for signs of infection, which include increased heat, redness, swelling, pain or red streaking on the skin. Monitor the wound for at least 72 hours, and if you experience any of those symptoms, seek the attention of a medical professional immediately.
You won’t have rabies and if your wound if not infected and it has healed then don’t worry about it. However: Get your dog vaccinated – asap- because another person may not be as patient as you are and may insist on the dog being killed and it’s brain being extracted and tested for rabies if he comes in contact with him or his dog – and the courts may grant that request – because that’s the only way someone who doesn’t know your doggie as well as you – can be sure your dog doesn’t have rabies.