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A vaccinated dog scratched me. Should I be worried?

This Premium Q&A, reviewed and published, features a real conversation between an iCliniq user and a physician.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

My friend's dog scratched me, and the dog has a tumor on her leg. The dog is vaccinated. Is that scratch still harmful? Do I still need to take any injections?

Answered by Dr. Chandwadkar Ashish

Education:

MD General Medicine

Professional Bio:

Dr. Chandwadkar Ashish is a General Medicine specialist. He specializes in dealing with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of internal diseases. He completed his MD in General Medicine at Tver State Medical University. He has nine years of clinical experience. Currently, he is practicing in Gujarat.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

First of all, give attention to the following points: 1. Is the dog drooling constantly? 2. Is the dog involved or was involved in any way with street dogs or any other diseased pets like cats, guinea pigs, or other mammals? 3. Were the injections given within seven years from today? If your answer to point 3 is a 'Yes', then relax, and just apply a general Povidone-iodine ointment on the scratched surface, and keep it clean. If point 3 is a 'No', then watch for point 1 and 2. If any of them are a 'Yes', please get anti-rabies vaccine shots from a local clinic, if you have not taken them within the past seven years from today. Remember, in the future, when you are scratched, licked on non-intact skin or bitten by dogs or cats with an unknown history, first wash the wound under tap water without rubbing it, and rush to your local clinic for anti-rabies shots. Thank you and take care. Regards.

Medically reviewed by iCliniq medical review team
Published At June 27, 2017
Reviewed At June 20, 2023

Education:

MD General Medicine

Professional Bio:

Dr. Chandwadkar Ashish is a General Medicine specialist. He specializes in dealing with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of internal diseases. He completed his MD in General Medicine at Tver State Medical University. He has nine years of clinical experience. Currently, he is practicing in Gujarat.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Education:

MD General Medicine

Professional Bio:

Dr. Chandwadkar Ashish is a General Medicine specialist. He specializes in dealing with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of internal diseases. He completed his MD in General Medicine at Tver State Medical University. He has nine years of clinical experience. Currently, he is practicing in Gujarat.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

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