I am 35, male. Will I get rabies if a stray dog scratches me?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 35-year-old male. While I was walking on the road, two dogs were behind me. When one dog tried to cross me, and its front left leg touched my right foot toe.

I saw nothing in my foot initially, and it happened around 9 am. At 10 am, I washed it with soap, and I saw a line 1.18 inches thick. It resembled the line when we rub our dry skin. This line disappeared after a wash with soap.

Then, I saw a skin tag on that line. After that, at 11 a.m., I rubbed alum on that place, but I did not feel any burning sensation. I doubt whether the microscopic scratch is covered by alum. Then, at noon, I used aftershave lotion on my foot to check for scratches, but I did not feel any burning sensation.

My doubts are:

Can after-shave lotion sense a scratch that does not bleed after washing with soap?
Why can lemon juice not create a burning sensation?
Is there a break in my toe?
Can potash alum find any microscopic scratch that is not visible to the naked eye?
Can a dog's claw carry the rabies virus?
Will I get the rabies virus through this scratch?
Am I too late to apply the above skin irritant to wash it?

Please help me.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

From what you have written, I feel that you have a grade one scratch. Since no bleeding was present, you need not worry. Usually, claws do not contain any virus, but one cannot always be sure. I suggest you get a prophylactic vaccination for rabies, usually a dose of three.

I hope I have answered your question.

Let me know if I can assist you further.

Regards.

Answer 2

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

My detailed answer to your questions is as follows.

The after-shave lotion is an alcohol based solution that will clean the skin area. Only when it comes into contact with sensitive areas, especially with the deeper layers of skin and muscle or blood, will you have the burning sensation. There is no bleeding, which means the scratch is superficial and no blood capillaries are damaged. So, there was no burning sensation after you washed and added after-shave lotion.
I have the same reason regarding lemon juice. Lemon juice has citric acid, which burns only on contact with sensitive areas of the body. The outermost layer of skin has only dead skin and keratin, and especially in the foot, the skin is thicker, which is the keratin part that has no sensation. I am not able to see any break in the skin.
Potash alum is used to cool the skin, so there is some degree of dryness. There is no such thing as a microscopic scratch, so there is no difference as far as I know. Any scratch that leads to the destruction of the sensitive area of the skin can be felt.
If a dog scratches itself and touches its saliva or blood, it can have virus particles in its claw. Going by the history you have provided and the photos (attachment removed to protect patient identity), yours is a grade one scratch, and it does not lead to rabies.
But, as I have already told you, getting a prophylaxis of three injections will help.
Washing as early as possible is recommended. Please wash only with running tap water and soap. Others are not recommended.
I suggest you to take the prophylaxis and forget about the incident as from what you have given the history, it is unlikely that scratch can lead to rabies.

I hope this helps.

Thank you and take care.

Regards.

I am 35, male. Will I get rabies if a stray dog scratches me?

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