What happens if a dog scratches you and draws blood?

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.

What to do if a dog scratches you with nail?

How to treat a dog scratch

1. First, wash (but don’t scrub) the dog scratch wound with warm water and soap. Rinse for at least 5 minutes.
2. If the dog scratch is bleeding, apply pressure to the area with a clean gauze pad.
3. Apply an over-the-counter (OTC) antibiotic cream or ointment.
4. Cover the wound with a sterile bandage.

Can nail scratch of dog cause rabies?

While you get infected with rabies when bitten by an infected dog or cat, it can be just as fatal when a rabid dog or cat with saliva-infested nails—say, one that has been licking its paws— scratches a human. Although it is highly unlikely to contract rabies from a scratch, it can still happen.

Can a dog scratch get infected?

Even a minor bite or scratch from an animal of any kind can become infected with bacteria that may be harmful, occasionally leading to serious complications. While scratches and bites may not look “angry” or infected, this is not to say that they don’t come along with plenty of risks—including the risk of tetanus.

Do I need a tetanus for a dog scratch?

Call your doctor if the bite or scratch broke or punctured the skin, even if the area is small. A child who is bitten by an animal may need antibiotics, a tetanus booster, or rarely, a series of rabies shots.

How do you tell if a scratch is infected?

If you notice any of these signs of infection, call your doctor right away:

1. redness around the cut.
2. red streaking spreading from the cut.
3. increased swelling or pain around the cut.
4. white, yellow, or green liquid coming from the cut.
5. fever.

How long do dog scratches take to heal?

Your bite may take as little as 7 days or as long as several months to heal, depending on how bad it is. Taking good care of your wound at home will help it heal and reduce your chance of infection. The doctor has checked you carefully, but problems can develop later.

Can you get rabies if a dog scratches you with nails?

The virus that causes rabies is spread through contact with saliva or brain tissue from an animal infected with rabies, but it cannot penetrate unbroken skin. If a rabid dog with saliva-covered nails scratches a human, theoretically infection can occur; however, most dogs are vaccinated against rabies and are not at risk for infection.

Can a human get rabies from an animal scratch?

Even though it is highly unlikely that a human will contract rabies from an animal scratch, it can still happen. The virus that causes rabies is spread through contact with saliva or brain tissue from an animal infected with rabies, but it cannot penetrate unbroken skin. If a rabid dog with saliva-covered nails scratches a human,…

What happens if a dog scratches you with its claws?

Dogs don’t use their claws intentionally as weapons the way cats do. A hostile dog would try to bite rather than scratch. A scratch from a dog is most likely during play, which implies a familiar animal or a pet. You would likely notice rabies symptoms in such an animal.

Can a dog scratch turn into an infection?

How to Treat a Dog Scratch. 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.