Scratch from my Shihtzu

[scaredsammi]

Hello guys. I have a 2 months old shihtzu who is not vaccinated by anti rabies as he is still a baby. Yesterday he has his 6in1 shot and at the same time the vet and the assistant groomed him and cut his nails. The nails werent nail filed yet and it was was sharp. They were trimming his hair when he accidentally scratch my arm. It was half inch long. 1 nail scratch. No bleeding. It just turned red and bulged a bit. I got scared and thought if i should get an anti rabies vaccine. So i did went to the ER after 3hrs as it was far and hot my initial first shot. Will be back after 3days and then on the 7th day and so on. My pup hasnt produced any signs of rabies though, he is in a cage right i quarantined him. And not showing any signs of rabies. Maybe a bit of batking as he doesnt like to be in a cage. My question is, did i do right thing? Im actually having panic attacks as i have anxiety issues. I couldnt sleep and just kept reading articles about rabies and watching youtube stuff. Please help

[scaredsammi]

Thankyou @margot49 i really appreciate it. Yes the mother survived in fact as well as the breeder who got bitten too with no shots. I was advised if after 10 days and my pup is fine then we stop the shots

[scaredsammi]

I dont know why they (the people from the ER) said that i made the right decision by going on with the shot. The owner of the shihtzu (well she owns the mom of my pup) said that her shihtzu had like a year late wuth the rabies shot. Is that something to worry about? I just had my second shot earlier. Km not sure if i should continue and finish the shot until the end. Infection? Omg. What kind of infection?

[Margot49]

I am really surprised the ER started the shots.  I can only say go on the recommendations of the doctors.  If that mother of the pups is showing no symptoms, you are fine!  If you are going to the doctor and they are checking the site, they would watch for infection.  You can get an infection from scratching yourself on about anything.  You could get a bacterial infection but the doctor would see that and so would you.  Really, I think you are worrying unnecessarily.  Dog and cat groomers get scratched and bitten all the time.  I have friends that are groomers.  They have survived many years.  You woukd need to worry more about wild or stray animals.  

[Ghilly]

Honestly, unless your puppy was born outside to a dog that had not been vaccinated and had to survive by fighting off wild animals for its food, the risk of rabies in your case is so small as to be basically nonexistent.   Rabies  vaccinations are nothing to mess around with and truthfully, I am surprised that, given the circumstances, the doctor or hospital even started the shots on you because the chances of you having rabies from this is pretty much nil.  

[Margot49]

I seriously doubt you have to worry about Rabies and am a bit surprised the ER initiated Rabies shots!  If anything, you might be subject to an infection.  I can't count the number never of dog scratches I have had over the years.  I had one get infected from a pup I had rescued from the Shelter, even though I cleaned it right away, and was given antibiotics.  I have had worse infections from cat scratches!  Please do not panic and realize that this happens a lot.  If it should happen again, clean with Hydrogen Paroxide and put an antibiotic ointment on it.  Just watch for any redness or swelling.  You have had a doctor check it so I would just continue with what they recommend.  

[tonyb286]

Hi. Yes, you did the right thing. It's always better to be safe than sorry, even when - as in your case - the risk is extremely small.

Tony