SHOTS MAY BE NEEDED IF BITTEN BY A PET

Here are steps to take if bitten by a pet:

Wash the bite thoroughly with soap and water.

Seek medical attention. A doctor may recommend a tetanus shot. (Tetanus isn’t an animal-borne disease, but rather a bacterium which can infect through wounds.) If the situation warrants, the doctor also may recommend rabies treatment as a preventive measure.

Report the bite to the animal control bureau in your area. If it was not your pet, try to obtain the owner’s name and address. Try to learn whether the animal has been inoculated for rabies or has had contact with potentially rabid wildlife. If the animal appears to be a stray, try to identify the area it has been sighted in. If it is your pet, have ready the date of your pet’s rabies vaccination; the physician and animal control will inquire.

Be alert to the possibility of infection during the days after the bite. Report to your physician any change in health, such as fever, lymph-node swelling, nausea or vomiting or rash.

Alert your veterinarian if the pet’s biting or aggressive behavior persists. This isn’t “normal” behavior for a pet and may signal a problem that could lead to further risk to you.