Can I take anti-inflammatory drugs if I get scratched by an animal?

In life, many small animals can bring us a lot of comfort, but we also know that many animals also carry a large number of bacteria and viruses. For example, rabies virus. So, when we are scratched by animals, can we take anti-inflammatory drugs? In fact, in this case, we still recommend that everyone go to the hospital to get rabies vaccine. Because anti-inflammatory drugs cannot kill rabies virus.

If you are scratched by a dog, the first thing you should do is treat the wound. When treating a wound, be careful to keep it open. If blood flows out, let it flow out on its own for a while, or you can use your hands to squeeze the area around the wound to help drain the blood, but never suck the wound with your mouth. Then rinse the wound with clean water, or even better with an alkaline detergent such as soapy water. If the wound is not big, you can apply iodine and bandage it according to the actual situation. If the wound is large, you need to stop the bleeding and go to the nearest hospital for treatment as soon as possible.

After the wound is treated, you will need to get vaccinated. Normally, a minor scratch from a pet dog will not cause rabies infection in humans, because pet dogs are vaccinated regularly and dogs' paws rarely carry rabies virus, but just in case, you'd better go to the hospital for vaccination within 24 hours. If the scratch is severe, you must get a vaccination. After the vaccination, do not eat spicy, cold or seafood foods, and do not drink alcohol, strong tea or coffee, otherwise it will affect the immune effect.

What to do if you are scratched by a dog

If I get scratched by a dog, do I need an injection? The rabies virus is transmitted through saliva and blood. You don't need an injection if you are scratched, but you must pay attention to disinfecting the wound. However, if the puppy's nails are not trimmed, there may be bacteria, so it is best to go to the hospital for regular disinfection. Because it was a dog's paw, not saliva or blood, there should be no sequelae, but the wound must be treated in time, otherwise bacteria or even germs will remain in the wound and flow into the body with the blood. If that happens, some diseases that we don't know about may occur.

To relieve the many parents who have been caused unnecessary panic due to lack of knowledge. The editor forwarded Dr. Zu Shuxian’s professional answer - Is it possible for you to be infected with rabies? Please refer to the following points

1. In my country, rabies almost always occurs in rural towns, small towns and urban-rural fringe areas, especially in southern provinces and regions. However, some larger cities (excluding their suburban counties) have had almost no reports of rabies for many years. Therefore, the possibility of rabies transmission can be basically ruled out in the following cases: 1) domestic dogs and cats in large cities;

2) The dogs and cats have clear backgrounds and are kept at home, not stray animals;

3) The dog or cat has never been in contact with a dog suspected of having rabies, or has not been bitten by a dog of unknown origin;

4) The animal does not show any signs of illness or abnormal behavior, and the bite was caused by a reason, such as teasing, protecting food, protecting offspring, or causing pain;

5) The animal has been vaccinated;

6) The Centers for Disease Control informed us that there has been no rabies outbreak in the area in recent years;

7) The bite occurred more than 10 days ago and the dog or cat is in good health.

You can know the information from 1) to 5) at the time of being bitten or coming into contact with an animal. You can rest assured knowing these 5 points. If you also know that the Centers for Disease Control has informed you that there is no rabies in the area, you can feel at ease. If there is Article 7), you can rest assured regardless of whether there are Articles 1) to 5).

2. Rabies is mainly spread by dogs and cats through bites. If, in the context of 1. above, the infection is caused by licking or saliva from your own or your neighbors' disease-free or healthy dogs or cats, it is meaningless. If the scratch is mild and does not bleed or is a superficial scratch, iodine can be applied locally. In case of severe scratches and heavy bleeding, in addition to rinsing immediately, go to the hospital for treatment. Exposure treatment is only required when an animal that is confirmed or suspected to have rabies scratches or licks broken skin or mucous membranes.

3. Petting rabid animals (dogs and cats) or coming into contact with their blood, urine, or feces does not constitute exposure and no preventive measures are required.

4. There is absolutely no possibility of transmitting rabies through indirect contact with saliva of apparently healthy animals.

Healthy dogs are not "toxic"?

Question: The dog has been kept at home for 5 months after I bought it. It basically never goes out and is still very healthy. Can it be considered that the possibility of it being a domestic dog carrying the virus is very small?

A: First of all, I want to ask you, why do you suspect it is toxic to health? If your dog is not from a rural area where rabies has just occurred and is healthy, why should you worry? When answering questions in many places, I emphasized that it is unfounded to say that healthy dogs are carrying viruses. If, as the original answer says, the "possibility of such dogs being poisonous" is "uncertain", then people should not keep dogs and no one would dare to keep dogs.

There have been no reports of vertical transmission (mother-to-child transmission) to date.

If there really are healthy dogs carrying the virus, then we should never keep dogs. Because there is no simple and easy detection method, if you are bitten by a very small number of "healthy but poisonous" dogs, the consequences will be very serious. International research and field experience now demonstrate that healthy dogs do not transmit rabies.

Since healthy dogs do not carry the rabies virus, they do not spread rabies. Therefore, the "Target Groups" item on the instructions for various rabies vaccines clearly states in accordance with the requirements of the pharmacopoeia: (the vaccine) is used for "bites or scratches caused by rabid dogs or other mad animals."

Some people often ask that they were bitten by a dog or cat several months or years ago, and the animal has been healthy ever since, but they are still worried that they may have been infected with rabies and ask about the incubation period and whether they need to get a booster vaccination? Since the animal has remained healthy since the bite, you don't need to worry, let alone consider the incubation period or the need for additional vaccinations.

What to do if you are caught by a dog

After being scratched by a dog, you must deal with it promptly. If the wound is bleeding, stop the bleeding first, then go to the health and epidemic prevention station to get a rabies vaccine, and then receive intravenous fluids for a few days. If the wound is just some scratches, you can clean it with salt water first and then get the rabies vaccine. The editor will explain the specific method below.

Tools/Raw Materials

Saline, alcohol, anti-inflammatory drugs, gauze, soapy water, cotton swabs

Methods/Steps

If the dog only scratches the surface of the skin, there is no bleeding and no injuries to the bones. You can first rinse the injured area with salt water, and then disinfect it with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol or iodine.

You can also wash the wound with soapy water. Soap is alkaline and can neutralize acidic and other toxic substances. Therefore, it has a certain therapeutic effect on the areas where dogs are scratched.

If you are scratched by a dog and it is bleeding, and the wound is deep, first wash the wound with warm water and then use anti-inflammatory drugs to stop the bleeding. Grind the anti-inflammatory drug into powder and apply it to the wound. After the bleeding stops, bandage the wound with gauze.

Regardless of the depth of the dog's scratch, anti-rabies serum or rabies immunoglobulin must be injected in time after the wound is treated, and rabies vaccine and anti-inflammatory drips must also be given. Dog scratches cannot be taken lightly and must be treated seriously.

Do not eat spicy, cold or other irritating foods after being scratched by a dog to avoid worsening the wound. Try to eat a lighter diet.

Pay special attention to protecting the areas where your dog is scratched, especially in the summer. The wound is prone to itching when it is about to heal. Remember not to scratch it to prevent infection. If a mosquito bites you, you must endure it and not scratch it. It will be healed after a few days.

Precautions

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What to do if you are scratched by a dog

Many friends have been scratched by their beloved dogs. Usually, they are scratched when playing or when trying to take away the dog's food bowl. Dog lovers have rich experience in raising pets, so they are experienced in dealing with this kind of scratches, and after some treatment, there will be no problem. So, what should you do if you are scratched by a dog?

Methods/Steps

1. First of all, dog owners should have some common medicines at home. For example, gauze, anti-inflammatory drugs, cotton swabs (cotton swabs), gauze, etc.

2. Second, if you are accidentally scratched by a pet dog, you should wash it with soapy water as soon as possible, because soap is alkaline and can neutralize acidic and other toxic substances, and has a certain therapeutic effect on the area scratched by the dog.

3. Thirdly, if the wound caused by a dog scratch is deep, you need to treat the wound with anti-inflammatory and hemostatic treatment after cleaning. Grind the anti-inflammatory medicine into powder and apply it to the wound. Note that wounds caused by dog ​​scratches do not need to be bandaged, or they can be bandaged with a thin layer of breathable gauze.

Precautions

Although pet dogs raised at home are now regularly dewormed, bathed, and vaccinated, the dogs are in very good health. Generally speaking, a minor scratch from a dog is nothing to worry about. But for safety reasons, you should go to the hospital to get a rabies vaccine. (Note: Go to the hospital to get a rabies vaccine within 24 hours of being scratched by a dog)