Signs that your scratch wound has been infected
These signs may not appear immediately.
- Fever
- Increased redness and swelling
- Red streaks near the wound that aren’t scratches
- Weakness and fatigue
- Pus from the wound
You should immediately see your doctor if you notice any of these signs after a dog scratch. Your doctor will then diagnose what infection it is. Only then will the appropriate treatment be administered. The treatment will depend on the infection contracted. Some of the most common infections gotten from a dog scratch include:
Capnocytophaga infection & Rabies infection
Capnocytophaga is a bacterium that is carried in some dogs’ mouths. Although these bacteria rarely spread to people, there is still a possibility one could get sick from being exposed to an animal’s saliva, but you are at more risk if you have a weakened immune system. A capnocytophaga infection can progress quickly if not treated and can become life-threatening. There are certain symptoms associated with this type of infection, some of which include:
- Fever [2]
- Redness and blisters
- Severe headaches
- Swelling of the injured part
- Pus from the bite
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhea [3]
- Pain in the muscle and joint
You should call your doctor if you notice any of these signs of infection after a dog scratch. You may not need to wait for the symptoms. Seek medical attention if you’ve been scratched by a dog, especially if it’s not your dog. Your doctor will recommend certain treatments that can help prevent the infection.
Rabies is a type of infection that occurs when bitten by an infected animal. They are usually very serious and can be fatal in both animals and humans, due to the virus attack on the nervous system. While animal-to-animal transmission it is not as common for humans to be infected with household pets in the United States. The best way to reduce the risk is for dog owners to give their dogs the rabies vaccine [4]. It is important that you consider rabies if you get a serious wound from a dog, especially if it is from a stray dog or one who has not been vaccinated against rabies. You can get infected with rabies if the dog who bites has infected saliva or from accidental scratches from a dog.