In the process of raising cats, you may be scratched by pets. It is very important to take good care of the wounds. If the wound is not treated in time, it may cause infection and other diseases. So, what should we do when we are scratched by a cat or dog? If we are scratched or bitten by a cat or dog, we must not treat the wound carelessly.

1. Causes of cat and dog bites

1. Rabies virus infection

It depends on the amount of rabies virus entering the human body. If a mad dog or sick cat bites a person in the early stage of the disease, the rabies virus contained in their saliva will be less than in the later stage of the disease.

2. Caused by serious bites

The severity of the bite also affects whether the person bitten will develop the disease. Large, deep bites are more likely to cause disease than small, superficial wounds. Bites from multiple parts are also more likely to cause disease than bites from a single part, and the incubation period is shorter.

3. The wound was not treated

Correct and timely treatment of the wound after being bitten is the first line of defense against rabies. If the wound is treated correctly and in a timely manner, and anti-rabies treatment is provided after exposure, the risk of the disease can be greatly reduced.

4. Infection through mucosa

It is more difficult to develop infection through mucous membranes than infection through skin bites, and more cases are depressive rabies. But it also depends on whether the individual's resistance is sufficient. When the resistance is low, it is easier to get sick.

5. Bite the nerve site

Bites to the head, face, and neck, which are close to the central nervous system or areas rich in peripheral nerves, have a higher morbidity and mortality rate than bites to the limbs.

2. Steps to deal with cat and dog bites

1. Wash the wound immediately

Immediately flush the wound with running water to wash away the virus and squeeze out the blood as much as possible. If possible, it is best to rinse with 20% soapy water for 20-30 minutes.

2. Press out the saliva from the wound

Wash the wound thoroughly. Dog bite wounds are often small on the outside and deep on the inside. When flushing, expand the wound as much as possible and squeeze the surrounding soft tissue to try to wash away the dog's saliva and blood on the wound.

3. Disinfect wounds with iodine

Then disinfect the wound with iodine, then wash off the iodine with alcohol, repeat this 3 times. If there is no water source nearby, you can first use human urine instead of clean water to rinse, and then try to find water.

4. Inject anti-epidemic vaccines

It is recommended that when bitten, vaccination should be administered immediately and must not be delayed for a few days. The incubation period of rabies is as fast as 10 days before onset of symptoms, and as slow as several years.

​5. Severe serum injection

If the wound is severely bitten, antiviral serum must be injected and used at the same time as the vaccine. However, antiviral serum may cause allergies, so you must first try the injection under the guidance of a doctor.

3. Treatment of scratches and bleeding

1. Don’t rush to stop the bleeding yet

When bleeding occurs after being scratched by a cat, as long as the bleeding is not severe, you can not rush to stop the bleeding and let the blood drain properly.

2. Lightly rub alcohol on the wound

Because pathogenic bacteria that enter the wound can be brought out through bleeding, if the wound is small and superficial, you can apply 75% alcohol or 2% iodine tincture and disinfect it 2 to 3 times, and wait until the bleeding stops naturally.

3. Brush the wound deeply for half a time

If the wound is deep and has a large area, the wound can be rinsed repeatedly and thoroughly with sterile saline. In order to prevent rabies, the wound should be washed for at least half an hour, and then applied with 75% alcohol or 2% iodine tincture. Wounds should generally not be bandaged or sutured.

4. Methods to avoid pet scratches

1. Cut off pet nails

In order to prevent family members from being accidentally scratched by pets, you should trim your cat or dog's nails regularly, or ask a pet doctor to trim your pet's overly long nails.

2. Pets wear nail covers

Take your cat to a pet grooming shop and let the groomer put on pet nail covers for your cat. Pet nail cover is a nail protection product designed for pets.

When raising pet cats, because cats are active and often scratch things, when they are scratched by cats, they will be infected through the mucous membranes, and some friends may also be infected with rabies virus. Therefore, we must do a good job in wound care, inject anti-epidemic vaccines in a timely manner, disinfect the wound with saliva, and be careful when handling it. If severe bleeding does not stop, you should go to the doctor.