Vaccination against rabies in humans after a bite

Scientists say: people who have a cat in their house get sick five times less often than others. The statement is justified, because in the course of numerous experiments it was found that furry “antidepressants” normalize blood pressure, speed up recovery and even strengthen the immune system. And at the same time, a cat bite, even if superficial and received during fun, can lead to serious consequences and even shorten the life of the victim.

Moreover, the danger lies not in the wound itself, but in its infection by dangerous microbes living in the animal’s saliva. And then the prognosis is determined by the timeliness and competence of first aid. If you let the situation take its course, the infection will enter the bloodstream, spread to all organs and lead to the development of serious conditions.

What does a cat bite look like?

Even a very angry animal is not able to tear a person to pieces, because a cat's jaws are quite weak. And a cat bite that does not have a large area of ​​damage is difficult to confuse with the bite of another animal.

Thin, elongated fangs bite sharply into the skin, leaving deep marks that require treatment - closed, slowly healing puncture wounds (in rare cases, the edges of the wound are torn). Usually, next to the punctures there are traces of scratches. After healing, the damaged skin becomes scarred.

You need to know this! As a rule, cats bite people on the hands, palms, fingers or wrists. A severe pain syndrome develops in the bitten limb, limiting the victim’s movements. Regardless of the depth of the lesion, the wound turns red and swells.

Specifics of cat bites

Pathogenic microorganisms living in the saliva of a pet are extremely dangerous to humans. By sinking its teeth into soft tissues and tendons, the animal “rewards” the person with a whole range of infections. So the danger of a cat bite is not in damage to the skin, but in the entry of the animal’s saliva into the wound.

Having sunk into the epithelial layer, bacteria rapidly multiply, causing an inflammatory reaction in the form of edema. The bitten area (most often a hand or finger) swells before our eyes. If a cat bites a joint, its mobility is impaired.

Immediate treatment of the wound and proper antibacterial therapy will stop the inflammatory process and protect the victim from serious consequences.

Possible consequences of a cat bite

Even a superficial cat bite can damage the victim’s health. After all, pathogenic microflora from the saliva of an animal that enters the body through damaged skin leads to the development of infections in 80% of cases.

Attention! Microbes dangerous to humans were found in the saliva of nine out of ten examined cats.

Diseases

Most often, cat saliva contains the following microorganisms:

• pasteurella;
• streptococci;
• staphylococci.

Most of the listed microbes belong to the group of opportunistic pathogens. This means that under the influence of unfavorable factors, completely harmless microorganisms inhabiting the body of a warm-blooded animal become causative agents of inflammatory processes. And once in a fresh wound, they can accelerate or provoke the development of the following diseases:

1. Benign lymphoreticulosis or “cat scratch disease.” The causative agent is chlamydia, which enters the body through scratches and bites. Once the wound becomes infected, the affected area becomes red and swollen. After 3 weeks and after the bite site has healed, fever may appear, accompanied by chills, an increase in temperature to abnormal levels, and loss of appetite. If the disease is left to chance, the infection affects the lymphatic system, the brain: the person begins to have headaches, the lymph nodes located next to the bite become inflamed. Children who like to play with kittens are especially susceptible to infection (the older the cat, the lower the likelihood of contracting lymphoreticulosis).
2. Pasteurellosis. The causative agent of this disease more often than others enters the victim’s blood after a cat bite. Immediately after the bite, redness and swelling of the injured area are noted. Symptoms of acute infection: fever, chills, fever, skin inflammation. The advanced stage of pasteurellosis leads to systemic inflammatory reactions: arthritis, osteomyelitis, etc.
3. Tetanus. When bitten by a cat, especially a stray, there is a risk of contracting tetanus. The causative agent of a dangerous disease lives in soil, feces or objects. In a small closed wound, anaerobic conditions are created (and this is an ideal environment for the development of bacteria). If antitetanus serum is not administered to the victim, death is inevitable.
4. Rabies (hydrophobia). From the moment of infection to the manifestation of the clinical picture, rabies in cats develops from 9 to 51 days. And only after this, a week before death, the animal begins to hide from bright light, attack people, meow loudly and protractedly, and violently gnaw inedible objects. Paralysis of the larynx and sagging of the lower jaw leads to drooling. If you notice an animal with the described symptoms, move away to a safe distance and call the sanitary service. Otherwise, the animal will do a lot of trouble. If a sick animal does attack, you should immediately consult a doctor. If you miss the moment, the rabies virus will provoke damage to the central nervous system that is incompatible with life.
5. Staphylococci, streptococci. After pathogenic bacteria penetrate the body, a person develops aching bones, skin rashes, cough, dermatitis, suppuration of the bite site, severe damage to the respiratory system (pneumonia, bronchitis, etc.).

Cats tolerate staphylococcal and streptococcal infections no more easily than humans. An infected animal has difficulty breathing, discharge from the eyes and nose, and joints and bones become inflamed.

If you notice the described symptoms in your pet, immediately take him to the veterinarian. Thus, you will protect yourself and your loved ones from dangerous infection.

Swelling and pus

Swelling and pus may appear in the bitten area. This often happens if, when a cat bites, the wound is not washed and treated with a disinfectant solution.

If the wound is clean, swelling is barely noticeable and there is very little pus. If the cat just scratched, the scratch swells slightly and heals within a couple of days.

With a deep bite, swelling and suppuration do not go away within 3-5 days. And throughout the entire healing period, the wound needs daily disinfection. If the healing process is delayed or the suppuration intensifies, you cannot do without the help of a doctor.

Spread of the disease

All animals that spend part of their time outside the home and come into contact with other representatives of the animal world are at risk. The main carriers of rabies are wild animals, encountering which in urban environments is possible, but unlikely. However, the virus can spread from foxes, raccoons, wolves, rodents, bats (the main carriers) and other fauna to street dogs and cats, after which the disease easily spreads in populated areas. The risk of infection is increased in small towns and rural settlements located in forest areas. Rabies spreads dynamically due to animal migrations, so it is difficult to identify any regions at particular risk. Rabies cases can be reported anywhere.

How is rabies transmitted in cats? The disease spreads through the bite of a sick animal as a result of saliva entering the blood of a healthy body. Transmission can occur when saliva comes into contact with the mucous membrane or damaged skin. There have been cases of infection by airborne droplets while in areas with a large number of bats, but these facts have not been officially verified. It is believed that transmission of the virus is possible only through direct contact. The virus is not persistent and dies within 24 hours outside the host’s body. Cats, like humans, have a certain resistance to rabies. Some researchers believe that in a cat or a person, after being bitten by an infected carrier, the probability of illness is about 15%, but the danger of the virus does not allow one to take the possibility of infection lightly.

Signs of infection

After a cat bite, you should listen to how you feel and pay attention to the condition of the wound. This safety requirement will make it possible to identify pathology at the initial stage and relieve the victim of painful symptoms and life-threatening complications.

Note! If a cat bite causes suppuration and severe swelling of the injured area, the infection can “leak” into the periosteum, joint or bloodstream.

Swelling

Any cat "mark" will swell and swell, whether it's a deep bite or a superficial scratch. It happens that the swelling surrounding the wound turns red and hurts. This indicates the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms under the skin. Provided the bitten area is thoroughly treated and the victim follows hygienic requirements, the swelling will disappear in a few days.

Fever

When a cat is bitten, the temperature may rise to subfebrile levels (37.1 - 37.7 C°) and not subside for 1-2 days. If the mercury column has jumped to 38 C° or higher, and the inflamed area of ​​skin literally “boils” - this is an alarming symptom indicating a serious inflammatory process. In this case, without qualified medical assistance, the victim’s condition will only worsen.

Redness

Human skin responds to any damage with irritation and redness. When there is a cat bite and the wound becomes infected, severe redness is accompanied by overheating of the injured area. Purulent discharge may appear.

Important! A cat bite is more dangerous than a cat bite. Males disappear on the street for days, communicate with relatives, and can have a snack in the trash heap for company. As a result, cadaveric poison, which is extremely dangerous for humans, remains on the animal’s teeth.

What can you get infected from cats?

Bites from cats, even domestic and vaccinated ones, need proper treatment. If the injury was caused by a stray animal, it is necessary to see a doctor as soon as possible in order to promptly stop the development of the following diseases:

• tetanus;
• rabies;
• blood poisoning;
• allergic reactions of varying severity;
• infectious cellulitis;
• dermatitis, dermatoses;
• inflammation of the lymph nodes.

Tetanus infection from a cat bite

Tetanus is a bacterial disease that affects the central nervous system and bone/muscle tissue and leads to seizures. An infected cat exhibits convulsive contractions of the masticatory muscles and lack of coordination (the animal skids when walking). If a person is bitten by a cat suffering from tetanus, he will experience characteristic symptoms:

• temperature rises;
• severe headaches begin;
• the bite site swells;
• lymph nodes become enlarged and painful;
• muscle tension is felt, turning into cramps.

Without urgent drug therapy (antibiotics and antitetanus serum), death is inevitable.

Signs of rabies in humans

Rabies is the most dangerous consequence of a cat bite. The spread of the virus leads to damage to the brain, nervous and motor systems. An infected animal has no chance of survival.

To save a person infected with rabies, the administration of rabies vaccines is required. The main thing is not to be late in seeing a doctor before symptoms appear:

• temperature rise;
• inflammation of the bitten area;
• loss of appetite;
• gagging;
• emotional lethargy or nervousness.

This will be followed by respiratory arrest, cardiac paralysis and painful death of the victim.

How does a person become infected with rabies from a cat?

As a rule, domestic cats become infected with rabies from hedgehogs, foxes and stray animals (over 70% of infections occur during out-of-town trips). The rabies virus is transmitted from a cat to a person through infected saliva: through a bite or contact of saliva with damaged skin.

During the incubation period, a healthy-looking animal already poses a danger. And if you are bitten by a cat, do not tempt fate and do not delay in seeing a doctor.

The first signs of rabies in humans

After a long incubation period, sometimes accompanied by itching, burning and aching pain in the wound, the person experiences the first abnormalities in the nervous system:

• fear of bright light;
• problems swallowing;
• unnaturally loud reaction to loud sounds;
• headache;
• general weakness;
• temperature rise to subfebrile levels;
• lack of appetite;
• dyspeptic disorders: abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting;
• cough and runny nose.

After the manifestation of the listed symptoms, the person is doomed. The virus occupies the central nervous system and causes progressive, fatal inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. Therefore, at this stage of development, rabies is recognized as an incurable disease.

You need to know this! The first manifestations of the deadly virus begin a few weeks after infection, but until then, the spread of deadly microorganisms can be stopped with the help of vaccination.

Features of the lush form

Patients with violent rabies are hyperactive, overexcited, afraid of water and drafts (in rare cases). The sight and sound of pouring water is terrifying, and there is drooling and excessive sweating.

The swallowing muscles are contracted from fear and the thirsty person is unable to drink. Paralysis of the heart or respiratory muscles can occur at any moment.

The patient's condition may unexpectedly improve: fears and spasms will disappear along with the depressive state. But after three days the condition worsens again:

• blood pressure drops sharply;
• heartbeat becomes faster every hour;
• paralysis appears;
• body temperature rises to 42 C°;
• death occurs as a result of cardiac or respiratory arrest.

Paralytic form

The paralytic (atypical) form of rabies develops in only 20% of infected people. One lasts longer and less dramatically than the violent one. The muscles gradually become paralyzed, starting from the bitten or scratched area.

Over time, the person falls into a comatose state and dies. The absence of symptoms characteristic of rabies leads to frequent medical errors, which is why data on the disease are underestimated.

Incubation period after rabies infection

In most cases, the incubation period for rabies lasts 2–3 months. However, depending on the physical condition of the victim, the functioning of his immune system, the place of entry of the virus and the viral load, this indicator can vary from 7 days to 1 year. From the moment of infection until the first symptoms appear, a person does not feel sick.

Bites to the face, neck, hand joints or genitals are extremely dangerous - areas enveloped in a larger network of nerve endings through which the infection spreads. For every hour, the rabies virus spreads through the nerves by 3 mm until it covers the brain area.

Symptoms in cats

Cats suffer from a violent form of rabies. A day before the appearance of a vivid clinical picture, pets change in character , becoming either too sociable or too withdrawn. This period is dangerous because the cat’s saliva already contains the virus, but the symptoms are not obvious.

Then comes the stage of excitement . At the same time, they behave extremely aggressively, attacking humans (and even the owner), dogs, and any other animals. They frantically tear up chairs, sofas, carpets, ground and floors, and gnaw on all objects in sight, including inedible ones. A particular danger to humans is that cats often attack silently, so there is no way to prepare and fight back.

The last stage of the disease is paralysis and death . First, there is an alternation of excitement and depression, gradually the periods of depression stretch out and become more frequent. At the same time, paralysis spreads to the entire body, first it affects the lower jaw and larynx (the cat cannot swallow), then the animal’s legs fail. Death occurs due to paralysis of the respiratory center or heart.

What to do after a cat bite

If the cat's teeth have not pierced clothing or reached the skin and the victim of the attack feels well, there is no need for medical attention. If tissue injury occurs, it means that the animal’s saliva has gotten under the skin and the victim must:

1. Treat the bite site.
2. Go to the emergency room (it would be a good idea to take your immunization card with you).
3. If possible, catch the attacking cat, place it in a closed carrier and take it with you to a medical facility (observing the animal will allow you to quickly and accurately determine the possible consequences of the bite).

What to do if bitten by a cat

After a cat bite, the wound should be washed, treated with a disinfectant solution and seek medical help at the nearest medical facility.

If the cat scratched

The procedure is the same as after a bite. Most zoonotic infections live not only in saliva, but also on the claws of the animal. And saliva from a cat infected with rabies or tetanus easily penetrates damaged skin.

First aid

If you are bitten by a cat, especially a stray one, immediately treat the injured area. Timely and competent first aid will reduce the risk of infection, if infection occurs, and will slow down the spread of pathogenic microorganisms.

In case of slight bleeding, wait until the cat saliva is removed from the wound along with the blood (this will neutralize most of the pathogenic bacteria and speed up the recovery process). And only after that proceed to first aid:

1. Prepare a soap solution (20%): grate a third of a bar of gray laundry soap and a piece of toilet soap on a fine grater.
2. Dissolve the resulting powder until smooth in 500 ml of warm water.
3. Wash the wound with cooled soapy water for 15 minutes. If the skin is simply scratched, 5 minutes is enough. An alkaline environment does not allow bacteria into deep tissues.
4. Apply Levomekol antibacterial ointment to the wound or rinse with chlorhexidine. Fill deep skin damage with 3% hydrogen peroxide, iodine or medical alcohol (you can use vodka or furatsilin).
5. Cover the wound with a clean bandage and secure (not tightly).
6. To relieve pain, wrap ice in a waffle towel and apply to the bandaged wound.

If the wound is bleeding profusely, raise the affected limb to chin level and press down on the damaged vessel with your finger. As soon as the bleeding stops, proceed to the measures described above.

Errors in first aid

• forced cessation of minor bleeding;
• covering the affected area with an adhesive plaster;
• cauterization or self-suturing of the bite;
• neglect of medical care.

Treating the wound with medications

To treat a cat bite, you will need medications that can be found in any home medicine cabinet:

• hydrogen peroxide;
• iodine;
• medical alcohol;
• chlorhexidine solution or Miramistin;
• Vishnevsky ointment, tetracycline or Levomekol.

Antibiotics

If you get bitten by a cat, especially a stray one, be prepared to take antibiotics. Infections cannot be cured without antibiotic therapy.

Broad-spectrum drugs that kill most known pathogens are often prescribed: Ceftriaxone, Amoxiclav, Doxycycline, Biseptol. The duration of treatment is from 5 to 21 days.

What to do at the first suspicion of rabies in your cat?

If there is suspicion of rabies in an animal, it can be dangerous for humans. Even without the appearance of the first symptoms, it is contagious, and the virus can enter the human body, for example, through the saliva of a pet. Therefore, your first action should be to immediately isolate the cat and carefully monitor its behavior and condition. It is impossible to control the situation with the disease on your own; you need to call a veterinarian who will take the animal into quarantine.

If your pet bites or scratches you, wash the wounds under running hot water using soap that contains as much alkali as possible (for example, laundry soap), and then immediately go to the hospital.

During the quarantine period, the cat is examined and the disease is diagnosed to accurately identify the presence or absence of rabies. It must be said that veterinarians can test for the rabies virus, but it is difficult to take it from an inadequate animal. If the disease is confirmed, the doctor will definitely advise the owner of the animal and all household members who have been in contact with the pet to undergo a special course of anti-rabies treatment. If there is no confirmation of rabies, the animal will be treated and sent home.

How is the treatment carried out?

If a domestic vaccinated cat has bitten and all first aid requirements have been met, there is no need to visit a doctor and further treatment. After an attack by an unfamiliar animal, life-saving treatment is as follows:

1. Tetanus vaccination (if more than 5 years have passed since the last vaccination).
2. Administration of anti-rabies serum (to prevent the spread of the rabies virus).
3. Taking antihistamines (to stop the development of an allergic reaction, relieve itching at the site of the bite).
4. Taking broad spectrum antibiotics.
5. Regular treatment of the bite site.

Surgical removal of dead tissue, sanitization, oxygenation of the wound and suturing are required in the following cases:

• head or neck injury;
• due to the violation of the vascular walls, severe bleeding began;
• death of the wound surface (in advanced cases).

Home treatment using pharmaceutical drugs

If the condition of the bitten person does not cause concern and does not require immediate hospitalization, treatment of the cat bite is carried out at home. After examining the wound surface and receiving test results, the doctor prescribes pharmaceutical drugs:

1. Antiseptics destroy pathogenic microorganisms and protect against infection: Miramistin.
2. NSAIDs to relieve inflammatory symptoms and inflammation itself: Ibuprofen, Ketoprofen.
3. Glucocorticoids (hormones) stop the inflammatory process when the infection is widespread: Medipred, Prednisol.
4. Antibiotics in the form of ointments on the wound surface: “Levomekol” and in the form of injections when the body is infected: “Amoxiclav”. Be sure to combine the use of antibacterial drugs with Bifiform or Linex, intended to preserve intestinal microflora.
5. Diuretics to remove excess fluid during severe swelling: Furosemide. To prevent important microelements from being “washed out” of the body, Asparkam should be taken simultaneously with a diuretic. Otherwise, problems with joints and bones will begin.
6. Pharmacy analgesics will help to cope with pain during the first day: “Tempalgin”, “Baralgin”.
7. Antihistamines will relieve swelling and itching from the bitten area: Suprastin, Loratadine.

Medicines to relieve swelling

If the hand is swollen far beyond the bite, it will not be possible to stop the spread of infection without antibiotics. To relieve swelling, the doctor prescribes injections of antibacterial agents into the inflamed area. Suitable for indoor use:

• "Amoxicillin";
• "Lincomycin";
• "Klavunat";
• "Ceftriaxone".

Swelling subsides after 5–10 days, provided that the prescribed drug is taken daily. If swelling is accompanied by severe pain, the patient is placed in a hospital under the close supervision of doctors.

A remedy to relieve the condition before visiting a doctor

When the bite site is swollen, but a visit to the doctor is postponed for some reason, a special bandage that slows down the spread of infection throughout the body will help alleviate the condition.

After washing the wound with a solution of laundry soap, apply a bandage generously soaked in Levomekol or other antibacterial ointment and alcohol. Every 4-6 hours, moisten the bandage with alcohol and reapply.

Result:

1. The pores will open.
2. The ointment will penetrate the affected tissues faster and the heat at the site of swelling will subside.
3. Secure your hand in a sling.

This temporary treatment option is not used for longer than 48 hours or for conditions that can be treated without the help of a surgeon.

Folk remedies and recipes from healers

After a bite from a domestic cat, when the risk of contracting rabies or tetanus is minimized, you can stop the inflammation using traditional medicine recipes. Already on the second day of active treatment, the pain goes away, the wound dries up and begins to heal. Consider popular recipes:

1. 1 tbsp. lie Pour chamomile, sage, calendula and eucalyptus into a container and pour 200 ml of boiling water. Wrap in a terry towel and wait until it cools down. Apply a gauze pad soaked in the infusion to the wound and secure it. Repeat herbal lotions 3-4 times a day.
2. Swelling caused by infection and the development of a purulent process is treated with aloe leaves. But only if the outbreak is small. Place the cut leaf with the fleshy side on the wound and secure. Vishnevsky ointment or “ichthyolka” are no less effective in drawing out pus from a cat bite.
3. The soda-saline solution draws pus from a moderately swollen arm and cleanses the wound. Dissolve 2 teaspoons in 200 ml of cool water. soda and salt, immerse your hand there and hold for about 20 minutes. Repeat three times a day.

Despite the natural ingredients, healers’ recipes can be harmful if the following conditions are not met:

• agreement with the doctor;
• exclusion of infection with tetanus bacillus or rabies virus;
• combination of folk recipes with pharmaceutical drugs.

Vaccination instructions

Several different types of vaccines have now been developed. Each of them implies its own production schedule.

Where do you get the rabies vaccination?

Previously, rabies injections were given in the stomach, but now the vaccine is given in a muscle. The shoulder or leg is most suitable for this. It is better to inject the drug into the deltoid muscle, and it is usually given to children in the leg.

How long after a bite should I get a rabies vaccine?

Vaccination should be done immediately, since the disease develops very quickly. Rabies vaccination is carried out 6 times. The vaccine has a second name - anti-rabies.

How long does the rabies vaccine last?

The rabies vaccine does not fight the virus. The administered drug helps to develop antibodies to fight the rabies virus. Over the course of 14 days, the body only produces antibodies. And only after this will it be protected by a strong immune system.

It is difficult to say exactly how long the vaccine will last, since everything is individual for each patient. But in most cases, immunity lasts for a period of one year. Therefore, you should get vaccinated every year.

Is it possible to get the rabies vaccine wet? No, you should never get the vaccine site wet.

Rabies vaccination course

As noted above, the rabies vaccine requires a course of 6 vaccinations. Vaccinations are given as follows:

• when visiting the clinic, the first dose is given;
• the second – after 2 days;
• third - on day 7;
• fourth – after 2 weeks;
• fifth – in a month (30 days);
• The testamentary vaccination is given on the 90th day.

A long course of vaccines allows you to develop strong immunity. A full course of vaccinations is enough to develop immunity for the next year.

Additional vaccination after an animal bite to a person

If a victim of a rabid animal bite has been vaccinated against rabies, then one should take into account how much time has passed since the last vaccination. If no more than a year, then you will have to give three additional injections:

• on the day of application;
• on the third day;
• on the seventh.

Preventive vaccination

Preventive vaccination is carried out according to the following schedule:

• on the day of your first arrival at the hospital;
• a week later;
• after 30 days;
• repeated revaccination a year later;
• revaccination every 3 years.

It is worth remembering that you should consult a doctor no later than 14 days after the bite. The incubation period after infection is very different and can range from 10 to 90 days. The first signs of the disease may not appear immediately.

What not to do

It is unacceptable to use antiviral drugs in the treatment of bacterial diseases (treatment suitable for one case may have a detrimental effect in another). This rule also applies to the treatment of a cat bite.

Mistakes in home treatment

1. Warming up the bite (inflammation intensifies, the spread of infection accelerates).
2. The use of healing agents on a contaminated wound (lack of sanitation leads to deepening of the lesion and the development of a purulent process). Even if a cat bites your finger, you can lose your hand.
3. Open an abscess at home.

If the situation is out of control and inflammation progresses, do not experiment with your health. It is better to seek medical help immediately.

Cases when you need to see a doctor right away

Sometimes a cat bite leads to conditions that are impossible to cope with without the help of a specialist. Let's take a closer look at them.

Urgent actions

Only a qualified doctor can treat the following conditions without harm to the patient’s life:

• it is obvious that the animal is infected with rabies;
• a child, pregnant woman or elderly person was injured;
• the infection is developing rapidly;
• the injured limb hurts unbearably;
• the victim lost consciousness;
• convulsions and trembling in the limbs appeared;
• an acute allergic reaction develops (the victim has difficulty breathing, the face swells, etc.);
• large deep wound with heavy bleeding;
• the patient has a fever, his general condition quickly deteriorates.

Deep bite

The deeper the bite, the greater the likelihood of infection in the body.

Bleeding

Severe, prolonged bleeding indicates damage to the artery. A dangerous sign that requires urgent stitches is a pulsating stream of blood.

Bite on the face or hands

If the face or arm is injured, therapy should be started as soon as possible. An advanced stage of inflammation will lead to an enlargement of the lesion and the formation of noticeable scars after the wound heals.

Attention! Never leave domestic cats alone with small children!

Bitten by a street cat

The greatest danger comes from stray cat bites. Here you cannot do without the help of a doctor and a detailed examination. The process of identifying the type of microbe can take a long time, because it is not known what the attacking animal is sick with. So, you shouldn’t delay visiting the emergency room, because with some “feline” infections the days count.

Vaccination

Tetanus and rabies are the most terrible complications of a cat bite, requiring urgent immunization.

Rabies vaccine is administered in an amount of 1 ml on days 1, 3, 7, 14, 28. No later than 10 days from the moment of the bite. For adults in the shoulder, for children under 5 years old - in the hip.

Anti-tetanus serum must be administered after a street cat bite or when the previous vaccination has expired. Emergency administration of a prophylactic drug is prescribed within 6–8 hours after the bite. If more than 48 hours have passed since the bite, administering the serum is not advisable.

Tips for preventing cat bites

To eliminate the risk of a cat bite, follow these rules:

1. Do not interact with unfamiliar cats.
2. Do not force affection on your pets.
3. Do not take away or interfere with food intake.
4. Do not take kittens from a nursing cat.
5. Train your cat from a young age.
6. Provide your cat with a scratching post and teeth-sharp trainers.
7. Don’t skip scheduled vaccinations (yours and your pet’s), have him examined and treated promptly by a veterinarian.

Vaccinating cats against rabies: when to vaccinate

There is no cure for rabies. The only way to avoid the disease is timely vaccination. The vaccination is given to a kitten at the age of 3 months.

The animal must be healthy. 2 weeks before the injection, the kitten must be given anthelmintic drugs.

Vaccines that have proven positive:

• Rabikan;
• Quadriket;
• Leucoriphenin;
• Nobivak.

Be sure to read:

Borreliosis in cats: symptoms, diagnosis, treatment

They are easily tolerated by cats and do not cause discomfort. Before the first vaccination, contact of the animal with sick individuals should be avoided.

It is not advisable to let your cat outside. Vaccinations in Russia are provided free of charge in state veterinary clinics.