HomeAnswersGeneral Practitionerdog biteI am worried about contracting tetanus. Please help.

There was little bleeding after a dog scratched me. Should I get a tetanus shot?

Share

The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.

Medically reviewed by

iCliniq medical review team

Published At August 9, 2018
Reviewed AtFebruary 22, 2024

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

Two days ago, I was playing with my dog and unintentionally, he scratched my hand with his teeth. Nothing serious, the wound is about a third of an inch in size and it just scratched the upper layer of my skin, and it was bleeding a little bit. I immediately washed it with water and soap and then cleaned it with alcohol. It is now almost completely healed. I am wondering if I may have contracted tetanus from my dog's saliva. I am 18 years old and I got my tetanus vaccination when I was 12. Should I go for a tetanus shot or is it unlikely that I contracted the bacterium?

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

You have a history of dog bite with little bleeding. For that, anti-rabies vaccination should be given to prevent a chance of rabies spread. Five doses at 0, 3, 7, 14, and 28 days after exposure is recommended. I suggest you consult a physician for examination. There is no need to take tetanus toxoid (TT) as you have already taken it before. I hope this helps. Thank you and take care. Regards.

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

Dr. Goswami Parth Rajendragiri
Dr. Goswami Parth Rajendragiri

Pathology

Community Banner Mobile
By subscribing, I agree to iCliniq's Terms & Privacy Policy.

Ask your health query to a doctor online

General Practitioner

*guaranteed answer within 4 hours

Disclaimer: No content published on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical diagnosis, advice or treatment by a trained physician. Seek advice from your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with questions you may have regarding your symptoms and medical condition for a complete medical diagnosis. Do not delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice because of something you have read on this website. Read our Editorial Process to know how we create content for health articles and queries.

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. iCliniq privacy policy