What happens if a dog's nail scratches you?
Jay Lakin
2025-10-20 17:10:25
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If a dog's nail scratches you, the biggest concern is an infection. To prevent infection, it is important to wash the dog scratch with warm water and soap. Apply pressure with a clean gauze pad if the scratch is bleeding. Once the bleeding has stopped and the area is dry, apply an antibiotic cream to the dog scratch and cover the wound with a bandage. From this point forward, it is important to keep the area clean and change the bandage periodically. Symptoms of infection for pet bites or scratches include redness and swelling, streaks of red near the wound, fever, pus from the wound, fatigue and weakness. Pet bites and scratches can cause infection. If you think you have an infection, seek medical care immediately. Infections that can follow are serious, so don’t ignore infection symptoms or wait to seek medical care.
Junior Renner
2025-10-07 08:59:02
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: 23
When you get scratched by a dog, you may notice red marks on your skin.
These may temporarily become painful and swollen and, in more severe cases, lead to more serious health risks.
Possibilities may include: excessive bleeding, infections, such as Capnocytophaga bacteria, tetanus, which is caused by Clostridium tetani bacteria, rabies, a serious viral infection, sepsis, a life-threatening emergency caused by the spread of an infection to vital organs.
Any dog scratch — including those that seem mild and harmless — ought to be treated immediately to prevent infection and other health complications.
The virus may be transmitted through an infected dog’s saliva from biting or accidental scratching.
If you’ve been bitten or scratched by a dog with an unknown rabies vaccination status, call a doctor.
Symptoms of rabies are slow to develop, taking several weeks or months.
Possible signs of rabies in humans may include: fatigue, fever, headache, weakness, anxiety, hallucinations, and other neurological changes.
Getting scratched by your dog can happen, especially during feeding and playtime.
Washing a dog scratch wound is critical in preventing infections.
Carlee Davis
2025-10-07 03:28:15
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: 19
Dogs walk on all four feet and dig in whatever they can find, which means dog nail beds are very dirty. They can harbor all sorts of bacteria and fungi that can readily infect humans through broken skin, including tetanus. This can, in rare cases, infect humans with MRSA or bacteria called Capnocytophaga if the scratch breaks the 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. 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.
Sally O'Conner
2025-10-07 03:25:32
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: 29
A scratch from a dog’s nail can seem like a minor injury, but it can lead to bleeding and potential infection if not properly treated. If the bleeding is minor, you can likely treat the wound at home. However, if the bleeding is heavy or doesn’t stop after a few minutes of pressure, seek medical attention. Apply gentle pressure to the wound with a clean cloth or bandage to stop the bleeding. If you notice any signs of infection, such as increased redness, swelling, warmth, pus or fever, consult a healthcare provider. If the wound is deep, won’t stop bleeding, or shows signs of infection, see our healthcare professional who may prescribe antibiotics or other treatments to prevent complications. A dog nail scratch that causes bleeding can usually be treated at home with proper wound care.
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