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Cat nail scratch
Hi doctor
I went to my relatives home suddenly a cat ram over my leg and it scratched my leg finger.
It is a home grown cat..not vaccinated.
Should I take rabies vaccine ..
I applied t bact ointment
Please advise
Thanks
Answers (38)
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IF THERE ANY BLEEDING THEN YOU SHOULD TAKE VACCINE
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Rabies vaccine is a preventive vaccine .
It is advised to take tetanus injection if not taken within past 5 years
And rabies vaccine should be taken as it is a cat scratch
Based on whether there was blood oozing out or not , immunoglobulin administration can be decided
Can u please tell me whether the wound was having blood or not so i can advice u further management?
Next Steps
Take rabies vaccine from nearby health centre
Health Tips
Do not miss vaccination doses. Take it on correct dates as prescribed by nearby health clinic doctor
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Yes TT and ARV is must
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ARV and TT must..
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Yes you should take Rabies vaccine full schedule and TT injection too
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Yes.
You should take Anti Rabies vaccine.
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Actually need to take vaccine..if there is any scratch mark along with tt injection
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you should take if you need further more assistance u can consult
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You should take the rabies vaccine as the cat is vaccinated it has a high chance to cause rabies.
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"A nail scratch from an unvaccinated domestic cat is considered a Category II exposure for Rabies. While the risk from a homegrown cat is lower than a stray, Rabies is a fatal disease, and medical protocol strictly recommends post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) if the animal's vaccination status is unknown or incomplete. Relying solely on local ointments like T-Bact is insufficient for viral protection
Next Steps
Start Anti-Rabies Vaccine (ARV): I recommend starting the 5-dose (or 4-dose ID) Rabies vaccine schedule immediately (Day 0). The sooner you start, the better the protection.
Observe the Cat: Since it is a relative's pet, observe the cat for 10 days. If the cat remains healthy and shows no signs of Rabies (aggression, drooling, or sudden death) after 10 days, you can discuss with your doctor about stopping the remaining doses.
Wound Cleaning: If you haven't already, wash the scratch area with running water and soap for at least 15 minutes. This is the most effective way to mechanically remove the virus.
Tetanus Shot: If your last Tetanus toxoid (TT) injection was more than 6 months to 1 year ago, you should also take a Tetanus booster
Health Tips
For a specific vaccination schedule (Day 0, 3, 7, 14, 28) and direct follow-up on the cat's health observation, you can consult me directly through my profile.
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If there is no bleeding , then u r safe. Just take TT inj. But if there is even one drop of blood, then u have to take rabies vaccine and immunisation also.
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Non vaccinated cat scratch
Definitely need vaccinated full course with inj tt.
Advise
CAT OWNER MUST KNOW ABOUT CAT VACCINE.
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Take the vaccine first
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Yes as soon as possible get vaccinated (ARV)
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It's better to take anti rabies vaccination
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You should take INJ. TT and INJ. Anti rabies vaccine.
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Go near by hospital or clinic
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Yes u have to take ARV( anti-rabies vaccine) 4 doses . Consult for more details.
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Don’t worry 😊 Risk is low.
Since it’s from an unvaccinated cat, it’s safer to take rabies vaccine. Wash the wound well. You can book a consultation and I’ll guide you properly.
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Since the cat is not vaccinated, my suggestion will be to take the vaccination.
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Yes. You must take your vaccine as per schedule
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Go for complete vaccinations
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Go for complete scheduled arv vaccination asap.dont take risk because the cat is also unvaccinated.
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Dr. Vetsa Sri Krishna Chaitanya
General Physician
7 yrs exp
Rajahmundry
Need a few more details please consult for further evaluation and treatment
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Dr. Nasim Akhtar
General Physician
2 yrs exp
Malda
Yes you must take ARB vaccine with proper wound management.
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Dr. Gaurav Jaiswal
General Physician
7 yrs exp
Jhansi
Kindly do connect and consult
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Dr. Naveed Pasha
General Physician
4 yrs exp
Bangalore
Yess please take Inj TT and Rabies vaccination’s
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Dr. Ashita Kuruvilla
General Practitioner
8 yrs exp
Kolkata
Yes take it
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Dr. Danish Qureshi
General Physician
15 yrs exp
Jaipur
yes please get TT and ARV vaccine
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Dr. Ravi Kumar Nadella
General Physician
18 yrs exp
Hyderabad
Yes
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Dr. Anuj Mothsra
General Practitioner
7 yrs exp
Jhunjhunu
Can help you, kindly consult and provide detailed history for proper diagnosis and further management
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Dr. Madhurika Agrawal
Psychotherapist
32 yrs exp
Ghaziabad
Cats do not cause rabies, first thing. Second, scratches do not cause rabies. Rabies virus lies in the salvia of the animal. No risk of rabies. Still you may wash the area with soap and water, apply t bact and keep the wound open. Take a dose of ink T T.
Next Steps
Add adviced above
Health Tips
No concerns
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Dr. Romain Rajan
General Physician
2 yrs exp
Ghaziabad
Hello,
I am Dr. Romain Rajan, General Physician (Ex Govt Medical Officer at RML Hospital, New Delhi), and your case has been allotted to me.
Thank you for your question. I understand your concern.
Do you need rabies vaccine?
ð Yes, vaccination is advised
Even though it is a pet cat, it is:
⢠Not vaccinated
⢠Cause of injury is a scratch with possible saliva contamination
ð This is considered a Category II / III exposure, so rabies vaccination is recommended
What you should do immediately
⢠Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and running water for 10â15 minutes
⢠Apply antiseptic (Betadine or similar)
⢠T-Bact is fine for local infection prevention
Vaccination advice
ð Start Anti Rabies Vaccine (ARV) as soon as possible
Schedule:
⢠Day 0 (today)
⢠Day 3
⢠Day 7
⢠Day 14
Do you need rabies immunoglobulin (RIG)?
ð Needed if:
⢠Deep wound
⢠Bleeding scratch
⢠Clear bite marks
If it is just a superficial scratch, vaccine alone is usually sufficient.
About the cat
⢠Observe the cat for 10 days
⢠If the cat remains healthy â risk is very low
⢠But do not delay starting vaccine
Important reassurance
Rabies is preventable if vaccine is taken on time, so starting early is the safest approach.
For any clarification or follow up, you can reach out to me directly on
WhatsApp at 85271646 seven seven.
Wishing you good health.
Dr. Romain Rajan
General Physician
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Dr. Rachna Pande
Internal Medicine
42 yrs exp
Bhopal
Yes.
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Dr. Sumit Verma
General Physician
5 yrs exp
Kanpur
Go for ARV vaccine immediately
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Dr. Chaithra H
General Physician
5 yrs exp
Bangalore
Yes you have to
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Dr. Suraj Sharma
General Practitioner
4 yrs exp
Jaipur
Do consult
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