Why do you need a rabies vaccine if you are scratched by a cat?

Don’t underestimate gentle cat owners, they can also be aggressive if they get angry. The cat owner’s claws are very sharp. When playing high with the owner, he will unconsciously show his claws. After many scavengers are scratched by cat owners, they don’t know how to treat the wound and whether they need rabies vaccination.

Scratched by domestic cat

First you need to identify the cat. If it is a cat in your own home or a friend’s home, and it has always been healthy, stayed indoors most of the time and was strictly vaccinated, you can consider this cat as a “domestic cat”.
If you have confirmed the above information and the scratch by the cat is not serious, you can treat the wound yourself.
After being scratched by a cat, you will feel pain. The depth of the wound determines the severity of the injury, and the treatment method will also be different.

How to treat superficial wounds

The uppermost layer of skin is injured, with a small amount of bleeding, which stops quickly. This is called a superficial wound.
Before treating the wound, wash your hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. Be careful not to neglect your fingertips and fingernails. Disinfect the wound after rinsing.
When washing the wound, be sure to use plenty of clean water to rinse the wound and surrounding skin. Do not use overheated water to avoid aggravating bleeding.
Choose a soap with mild ingredients, and then wash the skin of the scratched area carefully.

In addition, the surrounding skin should also be cleaned.

For example, if you are scratched somewhere on your forearm, then the entire forearm must be cleaned, not just the scratched area.
When cleaning, do not rub the affected area to avoid further damage to damaged tissue (such as bruising).
After cleaning the wound, apply anti-inflammatory ointment/water on the wound. (Such as Baiduobang, iodophor, etc.)
If it is a superficial scratch caused by a domestic cat, no additional antibiotics are needed.
Superficial wounds only need to be smeared with medicine and do not need to be bandaged. Keeping the wound clean and breathable will help the wound heal.

How to treat serious wounds

Severe skin trauma occurs if multiple layers of skin tissue are injured and is accompanied by moderate bleeding. If the perpetrator is a “domestic cat”, in this case, you do not need to be vaccinated against rabies, but you need to take antibiotics to prevent wound inflammation.
For those who do not have antibiotics at home, it is recommended to treat the wound first and then go to the hospital to buy antibiotics.
If the wound bleeds severely, use a towel to press the bleeding area slightly until the amount of bleeding decreases. If possible, lift the scratched limb above your head.
Because according to the blood circulation system, this can slightly reduce the blood pressure of the corresponding wound, slow down the blood flow rate/reduce the amount of blood outflow.
Wait for the bleeding to stop before flushing with clean water. Do not squeeze or rub the wound hard to avoid causing further bleeding.
After cleaning, dry the wound with a clean towel and cover it with a band-aid.
If the wound breaks open, apply a butterfly bandage to draw the sides in and close the wound, which will help the wound heal quickly.

Being scratched by a stranger or stray cat

If the scratch is from a strange or stray cat, you will need medical attention.
Because you can’t be sure that an unfamiliar cat has been vaccinated regularly, you must take steps to prevent bacterial infections, tetanus, or rabies.

Risk of being scratched by a cat

Some scratches and most bites can cause infection. Only thorough cleaning of the wound and regular application of antibiotic ointments such as Neosporin or Bacitracin can greatly reduce the risk of infection.
If the wound unfortunately becomes infected, you will need oral antibiotics.
Symptoms of a wound infection include: pain, swelling, redness, warmth around the wound or discharge or red streaks around the wound, and high fever.

Symptom 1: Cat scratch disease

Cat-scratch disease is a disease most commonly caused by cats. It is caused by human infection with Bartonella henselae. Cats are carriers of Bartonella henselae, especially kittens and cats with lice.
Some cats with cat-scratch disease may suffer from heart disease, mouth ulcers, or eye infections. If people suffer from cat-scratch disease, the first sign of cat-scratch disease is slight swelling of the scratched and bitten area.
This is followed by swollen lymph nodes in the armpit, groin, or neck. The patient then develops symptoms such as fever, fatigue, red eyes, joint pain, and sore throat.
If you are scratched, don’t panic. Although cat-scratch disease sounds a bit scary, there are now advanced medical methods to diagnose cat-scratch disease. Azithromycin, gentamicin, and other antibiotics can treat cat-scratch disease.

Symptom 2:

If you feel unbearable itching after being scratched by a cat, you may be suffering from a fungal infection called tinea corporis.
Symptoms of bulging skin and dandruff and tinea corporis in the affected area can be treated with antifungal ointments such as dicinine and clotrimazole.

Other risks

Cats may carry deadly germs. If you are scratched by a cat, please seek medical attention immediately if you develop the following symptoms:
Fever, neck swelling, skin redness, itching, pain, flaking, severe headache, dizziness or dizziness

How to prevent being scratched by a cat——

“Don’t punish the cat.” Many cats do not intentionally scratch their owners. Sometimes the cat is just a normal defensive behavior. Punishing the cat will only increase its aggression in the future.
“Cut nails”: Trimming your cat’s claws once a week can reduce the risk of scratching people. Try to use professional cat nail clippers.

“Don’t play wildly with cats.”

When playing with stray cats, whether they are big cats or kittens, try not to be too rough, otherwise they may scratch or bite you.

If you are bitten by a cat or dog, do you need to get a rabies vaccine?

This issue is essentially a medical and health issue. It requires specific analysis of specific issues and cannot be concluded in one sentence. *The following content is reproduced from the medical science popularization team: Dr. Ding Xiang.
Everyone knows about rabies, but there are actually many misunderstandings.
First, the incubation period of rabies is not long. Usually it is 1 to 3 months, the shortest is less than 1 week, and rarely it is more than 1 year, not the 20 years as rumored. So if you have had the experience of being bitten by your neighbor’s wealthy neighbor 10 years ago, please rest assured that he will neither attack the street nor suddenly turn into a dog one day.
Secondly, even if you are not bitten and bleed, you will be infected with the rabies virus. Rabies virus is a neurotropic virus that is not transmitted through blood. It can be infected as long as the skin is broken. The virus travels along the peripheral nerves to the central nervous system, causing neuropathy. The onset of rabies is very fast, and the mortality rate is almost 100%. Once the disease occurs, without treatment, the disease can spread in 3 to 5 days.
Thirdly, there is currently no cure for rabies, only vaccination. As long as the injected rabies vaccine can stimulate the body to produce sufficient immunity before the onset of the disease, the vaccine can be effective. Ordinary people should get vaccinated as soon as possible if they are bitten. High-risk groups, that is, people who are often exposed to animals that may carry the virus, must be vaccinated in advance.
Finally, rabies is not only carried by cats and dogs, but also by many domestic and wild animals. Theoretically, any warm-blooded animal can carry the rabies virus, such as bats, which can transmit both Ebola and rabies. So among superheroes, Spider-Man can be bitten by a spider and gain super powers, but Batman can never be bitten by a bat and gain superpowers.
However, to be honest, it is the rabies virus that will harm you, not cats and dogs.
Only these animals are also infected with rabies virus and serve as reservoirs for the virus. They lick, bite, scratch, and break your skin, which can give you rabies.

So how do you tell if the cat or dog that bit you has rabies?

Because cats and dogs are only contagious if they are infected with the virus a few days before the onset of the disease, and the rabies virus is ferocious. Once the disease occurs, it can take as short as three to five days or as long as ten days. The cat or dog will also foam at the mouth and die. After being bitten by a cat or dog, if the cat or dog is safe and sound after 10 days, it can be basically determined that the cat or dog is healthy and has not been infected with rabies virus.
This is the famous “ten-day observation method”. but! ! You must pay attention when knocking on the blackboard. The “Ten-Day Observation Method” is actually a passive response method. He can only judge whether the cat or dog that bit you has rabies. If not, then naturally everyone will be happy and burn incense to celebrate. So, all things considered. This is the first thing you need to do if you are bitten by a cat or dog.

The first step is to clean the wound

If the wound is not large, clean the wound with soap and water alternately for 15 minutes, disinfect with iodophor and alcohol, and do not bandage;
If you are caught or bitten to the point of being out of shape, take yourself to the hospital as soon as possible.

The second step is to determine whether to vaccinate

1. If you are bitten or scratched by an unknown stray cat or dog, you must be vaccinated. Stray cats and dogs are completely free-range in the wild and have not received any veterinary vaccinations. They may be infected with the rabies virus in many ways, which is very dangerous.
2. If you are bitten or scratched by a pet cat or dog, you need to have a detailed examination.
The main source of rabies infection in European and American countries has shifted from pets such as cats and dogs to animals such as bats and wild raccoons. This is because their pet management system is standardized, the popularity of veterinary vaccines is high, and their stray pet reception system is complete, so pets are rarely infected with rabies.
But this is obviously still far from enough in China. Not to mention the management system, there are free-range pets everywhere in the streets and alleys. The concept of promptly injecting veterinary vaccines into pets is far from popular. In many cities, pet owners do not have the slightest idea of hygiene and immunity. The pet cats and dogs they raise are , compared to stray cats and dogs, except for having an extra nest, there is no other difference.
Although the country has increased its publicity efforts in recent years, the number of rabies cases has been declining every year. However, as the world’s largest user of rabies vaccines, and the incidents of pet dogs attacking people that have often been reported in the press, it is enough to prove that when you are attacked by an owner, When a pet dog or cat bites or scratches you, you cannot be sure that the pet is safe.
So, just to be on the safe side, get an injection.
After all, the rabies virus has an incubation period, and once you become ill, basically even the gods can’t save you.

So at this time you need a wise saying:

But if it is a pet that you raise at home, has been vaccinated, and has never been released into contact with other animals, then if you are accidentally scratched by the cat owner or injured by the dog, you can basically rest assured.
Of course, if you still want to spend money for peace of mind, that’s okay.
Regarding rabies vaccination, I know you have many questions. Here are some answers:
The earlier the vaccine is administered, the better, so that the vaccine can take effect before the disease occurs;
Severe bites require not only vaccination, but also rabies antiserum and rabies immune globulin;
If you don’t get the injection for various reasons, such as being bitten for two or three days before you read this answer, you should get the injection immediately before it’s too late;
Pregnant women can get rabies vaccine, and children who are vaccinated in the vaccination plan can also get rabies vaccine;
If you are bitten by a single dog, you generally do not need a rabies vaccine unless the person is a rabies patient.
Finally, we hope that rabies can be eliminated in China as soon as possible so that cats, dogs, and people can live in peace in a safe environment.