Talk to General Physician on Dog Scratch
Asking for Self, Female, 24 years old, karachi
I got scratched by a stray dog, and I'm not sure if the scratch was caused by his paw or teeth. Should I get a rabies vaccine or any other treatment to prevent infection?
Homeopathic Dr. Basit Chawla - Homeopath
DHMS | Karachi
Thank you for your question. In homeopathy, medicine is selected according to the complete symptoms and patient constitution. For accurate remedy selection, a detailed case history is required. You may consult for proper homeopathic treatment.
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Given that the dog is a stray, you absolutely need to get the rabies vaccine immediately.
Since the dog cannot be found, captured, or observed for 10 days to check for symptoms, medical protocols dictate that this must be treated as a rabies exposure until proven otherwise.
Here is your action plan for right now:
1. Go to the ER or a Rabies Clinic Immediately
Do not wait until morning. Go now. Because the dog is a stray, there is no way to test it or observe it to rule out rabies. You will need to start the rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) series.
2. What the Vaccine Involves
If you have never been vaccinated before, do not worry—it is not the painful stomach shots of the past.
· You will receive one dose of Rabies Immune Globulin (RIG): This is injected around the wound site (the scratch) to give you immediate antibodies.
· You will receive the first Rabies Vaccine shot: This teaches your body to make its own antibodies.
· Follow-up shots: You will need to return to the clinic on Day 3, Day 7, and Day 14 after the first shot to complete the series.
3. Tetanus Booster
While you are there, ask the doctor to check if your Tetanus shot is up to date. If it has been more than 5-10 years since your last one, they may give you a booster for that as well.
Do not take a risk with a stray dog. Go to the hospital immediately and tell them you have a scratch from a stray dog with an unknown vaccination history. They will administer the first doses tonight
Yes you should be vaccinated against Rabies.
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yes
yes
Dr. M Mujeeb Ur Rehman - General Physician
MBBS, Certified TB Management, Certified In Critical Care (AKU) | Faisalabad
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