Steps to take when bitten by a dog to prevent rabies

Clean the bite wound

Disinfect the wound. Illustration photo

- Separate clothes from the wound (to prevent dog saliva remaining on the clothes from seeping into the wound).

- Wash the wound under running water (warm water is best).

- Use soap, salt water or hydrogen peroxide to disinfect the wound.

(However, do not rub too hard or the wound will become more serious).

Symptoms of rabies in dogs

- Excessive drooling; Unusually aggressive; Hoarse bark; Unusually red eyes

Check the wound

- If it is just a scratch on the skin, a small wound, no bleeding, monitor the dog's condition. After 15 days, if the dog is still healthy, you do not need to go to the hospital for vaccination.

However, if you fall into the following situations, you should quickly go to the hospital for rabies vaccination:

+ Bite deeper than 2cm and near the head, neck or genitals.

+ After 10 minutes, if the wound still does not stop bleeding, you should use a medical gauze pad to cover the bite and bandage it, then go to the hospital immediately. Note: Do not bandage the wound too tightly, making it difficult for blood to circulate.

How to prevent rabies

- Limit raising dogs and cats.

- Fully vaccinate your pets against rabies. When you see a dog or cat showing signs of rabies, take them to the veterinary station for timely vaccination and treatment.

- When raising a pet, you must regularly keep it clean and bathe it. In addition, when walking your dog, you should limit the dog from running free and it must wear a muzzle.

- When bitten by a dog, stay calm and follow the first aid steps above. In particular, do not use traditional medicine or medicine of unknown origin on the bite. People bitten by dogs or cats suspected of having rabies must get vaccinated early and fully.