My dog got a cat scratch on the nose with little blood. Rabies risk?

Depending on the severity of the scratch (feel free to post a picture of it) Lily should be checked by your veterinarian. Antibiotics may be needed but extra vaccination shots are not. Disinfection can eventually be started at home with very diluted hibiscrub or betadine or salted water baths. Buster collar may be useful as well to avoid any scratching (if any). Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

The rabies virus is transmitted through bodily fluids such as saliva, so there would be a higher chance of contracting it from a bite. But any wound which comes into contact with saliva would be a risk.

With bite wounds there is a risk of Rabies (although I believe Australia has strict quarantine procedures and may be Rabies free now) as well as bacterial infections both from bites/scratches and your own skin bacteria. Any wound needs to be thoroughly cleaned and evaluated by your primary care provider/MD.

It is very important that you take Rubal in to your vet for appropriate treatment, and have your son seen by a doctor right away. The doctor will be able to treat your son based on the rabies law and treatment protocol in your area, and your vet will be able to advise you on proper treatment protocol for Rubal. Please also make sure that you always keep your pets up to date on their rabies vaccinations, since rabies is relatively common in India and is deadly to humans and other mammals.

Rabies transmission requires a bite wound to enter the body, so what you are describing would not be a recognized method for infection with the virus, but if you are receiving Rabies vaccinations, I would certainly discuss this with your doctor to discuss ways to decrease the possibility of transmission of the virus and when you should consider getting a booster shot. I hope that was helpful and answered your question. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

The good news is that rabies is transmitted through bites/saliva and not scratches. If Ming was infected and shedding the rabies virus a month ago, then he would have died from the disease by now. Considering all of this, I think you should be safe, but it's best to consult with your physician if you have any further concerns. Below is a link to more information about rabies. https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/index.html I hope that helps and all is well.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Rabies is contracted through a bite or scratch from something infected with rabies. Unless you bit him and have rabies, he can’t get it from biting you. Keep up on his vaccinations and he should be good. Also, if he bites you make sure you wash the area with soap and water so it doesn’t get infected. Kisses to Odin!