Pet Scratch - Infection Risk

[puppiov]

My question is on January 9. I was walking in a store with my puppy. She has sharp nails and has a habit of going up to anyone to greet/play with them. From experience she scratches people when she jumps on them or tries to grab at their hand of does draw blood unintentionally.  On this occasion two men were walking in the store, she ran to both of them and jumped on them. She was so excited, I think when I pulled her away she may have scratched one of the men. She then scratched me on the chest about 10 minutes later in the car. It was not bleeding, but it burned slightly. I am afraid that maybe she scratched them and blood or something was under her nails and then she scratched me exposing me to HIV or some other infectious illness.  I did not think of the risk before until at about 9 days after this incident after I had nausea/stomach pain around the navel area, then tenderness in my groin area, my neck felt full. My nodes did swell in the back of my legs and they were painful. I also had severe nausea (no vomiting), lymph node swelling under my arm area.  I have been diagnosed with herpes and I get occasional outbreaks, gum disease, fasciitis in hands/feet/knee - all these were diagnosed a few years back by my doctor.  I did have some type of rash on my chest but I had it before this incident, so it might be unrelated. I had an HIV test on January 21 and it was negative.  I also had an HIV test back on April 2010 and it was also negative These symptoms were just weird for me. My belly was itching, but I did not see any bumps.  I am wondering what my risk is for infection based on what would probably be a casual contact experience. I AM NOT into beastiality.
Is it possible to transmit HIV if a dog scratches an HIV+ person and then scratches an HIV- person several minutes later??  If not HIV,  can a dog scratch pass any other illnesses to humans?? I know about cat scratch disease, but this incident happened with a dog, not a cat...

[Bridget A. Hewitt, RN]

HI and thanks for using the forum.

You would not be at risk for contracting HIV this way.  It is possible to get a skin infection from a pet bite, so if you suspect that the wound is infected (fever, redness or drainage at site) you should have it checked out by your doctor.  Good luck.

Bridget

[puppiov]

Also, I had this tenderness on the left upper side of my stomach and pretty much tenderness all over my belly on day 9.... I am not sure if anything was swollen.